Moses' father-in-law Jethro came to visit, bringing Zipporah and Moses' two sons. Moses told him all the LORD had done, and Jethro rejoiced and worshiped. The next day Jethro watched Moses judge the people from morning until evening. He said, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out.” He advised Moses to choose able men who feared God to share the load.
In the third month after leaving Egypt, Israel came to the Wilderness of Sinai and camped before the mountain. God gave Moses a tender message: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.” God did not just bring them out of Egypt; He brought them to Himself.
God offered them a covenant. If they would obey His voice, they would be “a special treasure to Me above all people… a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The people answered together, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Israel was called to show the whole world what God is like. Peter later used the same words for the church: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”
God told the people to consecrate themselves and wash their clothes, and to set bounds around the mountain. On the third day there were thunderings and lightnings, a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet very loud, so that all the people trembled. Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, “because the LORD descended upon it in fire,” and the whole mountain quaked. God is near, but He is holy.