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The preparation for the covenant is in three parts: the first is remainder and promise (vv.3-8); the second is action (vv.10-15); the third is visual and auditory (vv.16-25). It can hardly be accidental that these correspond with the commonly recognized human faculties: cognitive, volitional, and affective. On every level God was seeking to bring the people to the place where they would commit themselves to him without hesitation. The effectiveness of this preparation can be seen in the response recorded in ch. 24.
God reminds the people of their experience of the consequences of disobedience (“what I did to Egypt”) and obedience (“how I carried you”), and offers them a special relationship to himself in which they will function as his specially chosen priests (vv.3-8). The clear implication is that the nation is to function as mediators between God and the world. The initial response, as one might expect, is positive.
Those who make a verbal commitment need to confirm that commitment with some form of action (vv.10-15). Three kinds of activity are enjoined here: washing (v.10), establishing of limits (vv.12-13), and sexual abstinence (v.15). All are associated with ritual purification. These actions conveyed the sense that an extraordinarily solemn moment was upon them. They also expressed a preliminary kind of obedience. Having obeyed in these matters, they would be more likely to obey in others later.
Preparations for the covenant were capped with a series of visual and auditory effects (vv.16-19). These combined to produce a sense of awe and wonder in the people. Whatever else they might think about the covenant that God was about to offer them, they were not likely to dismiss it as something trivial and ordinary. Later Moses would remind the people that no one else had ever heard the audible voice of God (Dt 4:33, 36). This covenant was unique.
God’s final preparation was to underline to Moses his deadly nature for any humans who are not especially prepared to meet him (vv.20-24). Not even the ordinary priests could survive. Casual familiarity with the Most High is a dangerous thing (see 2Sa 6:6-7).