Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

nearer to Him.
Moses and "his assistant Joshua" were now summoned to meet
with God. The leader appointed Aaron and Hur, assisted by the
elders, to act in his place. Moses waited to be called into the
presence chamber of the Most High. His patience and obedience
were tested, but he did not leave his post. Even this favored servant
of God could not immediately approach into His presence and
endure His glory. For six days he must devote himself to God by
searching of heart, meditation, and prayer.
On the seventh day, which was the Sabbath, Moses was called
up into the cloud. "So Moses went into the midst of the cloud. ...
And Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights." He
fasted during the entire forty days.
God Exalts a Race of Slaves
During his stay on the mountain, Moses received directions for
building a sanctuary in which the divine Presence would be
specially revealed. "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell
among them," was the command of God. For the third time keeping
the Sabbath was commanded: "'It is a sign between Me and the
children of Israel forever,' the Lord declared, 'that you may know
that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath,
therefore, for it is holy to you. ... Whoever does any work on it, that
person shall be cut off from among his people'" (Exodus 31:17, 13,
14).
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