Notice what is happening in this text: "The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up" (16:20). If you have ever climbed to the top of a mountain, you know that it is not something you can do casually. In this text, the Lord descended to the top of Mt. Sinai, and called Moses to meet him there. There is something very significant about that fact. Most of the world's religions are like that; they record how people who are truly devoted can wear themselves out trying to reach God. Once they are there, they find that they actually haven't obtained perfection, but may feel like God has stooped down to reach them.
The gospel message is different. Jesus did not simply descend to a mountain peak and call his followers to meet him there. He descended all the way to the cross, on a hill called Calvary. He descended all the way to Hades and back for us. He does not call us to ascend to his heights - only to believe in his grace.
