Monday: God’s Invitation
Read Hebrews 12:18-21. What was the experience of Israel at Mount Sinai?
When God called Israel from Egypt, His plan was to create a personal, intimate relationship with them. He said, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Exodus 19:3-4, NKJV).
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Thus, through Moses God gave the necessary instructions to prepare the people to meet with Him. The people needed to consecrate themselves first (Exodus 19:10-15). Those who ascended to the foot of the mountain without preparation would die. Nevertheless, once the people had prepared themselves for two days, then “when the trumpet sounds a long blast” on the third day, God instructed that the people “shall come up to the mountain” (Exodus 19:13, ESV). He wanted them to have the experience Moses and the leaders of the people would have when they ascended the mountain and “beheld God and ate and drank” in His presence (Exodus 24:9-11, ESV). The people later recognized that they had seen God’s glory and that it was possible for God to speak “with man, and man still live” (Deuteronomy 5:24, ESV). But, when the moment came, they lacked faith. Moses explained years later: “you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain” (Deuteronomy 5:5, ESV). Instead, they asked Moses to be their intermediary (Deuteronomy 5:25-27, compare with Exodus 20:18-21).
God’s manifestation of His holiness at Mt. Sinai was to teach the people to learn to “fear,” or respect, Him. The “fear of the Lord” leads to life, wisdom, and honor (Deuteronomy 4:10; compare with Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 10:27) — and also to learn that He is merciful and gracious (Exodus 34:4-8). Thus, while God wanted Israel to come to Him, the people became afraid and requested Moses to be their intermediary. The description in Hebrews of the events at Sinai follows primarily Moses’ reminding the people of their lack of faith and their apostasy with the golden calf, and how he was afraid of meeting God because of their sin (Deuteronomy 9:19). The people’s reaction was not God’s plan for them; it was, instead, the result of their faithlessness.
| Because of Jesus, why should we not be afraid to draw near to a holy God? What are the conditions, however, for us to be able to draw near? |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am sure all of you know of the war between Ukraine and Russia. Given the dynamics and uncertainties of this very serious situation, may I ask your prayers for these two nations and the people that are involved in the war? Our prayers for the leaders and governments of all nations is also what I ask, that God would guide.
Sincerely in Christ,
Richard Ferguson
Amen, May the peace of Our Lord be with these two nations.
Amen and the world at large. Our prayer should be that the Lord will strengthen our faith in Him amidst the turbulence all over the world.
We are troubled by the news and will make it a matter of prayer.
am really disturbed by the news that am seeing on tv about escalating war between Ukraine and Russia let's continue praying over the situation
God had to send Jesus to give His life for me because of my faithless! Because I did not believe His instructions, Because I decided to doubt, and because I got so distant from the nature He created me to be, that I naturally get afraid when I try to draw near Him!
But with Jesus, I have a God who became like me (in flesh and blood, but Who never doubt or sinned). It is so much easier to relate to someone who went through what I've been through (and much more).
So, we should never be afraid to draw near The Holy God because He gave Jesus to everyone who wants! And Jesus is our safe pass for us to draw near God, The Father!
I see that you found how Jesus' work in salvation is personal for everyone as well as corporate for all who will believe.
I love how He touched you so personally. I pray you enjoy His wonderful love to the finished work He is giving you.
One of the things we may say to a child who is not speaking loud enough to participate in the class is to advise them to use their 'outside' voice, which, we hope is considerably louder than their 'inside' voice.
When God spoke to His people, why did He use His outside voice and not His inside still small voice? God who knows all things, knew they would be frightened. The answer, I believe, lies in His purpose for speaking to them at all.
Consider that they were obedient to the terms of preparation to hear God’s voice, but can any of us by obedience without faith be prepared to face His law? Moses is quoted as saying they were afraid of the fire. Our author says their reaction was not God’s plan. There are some lessons in this story for us. For example, are we preparing to see God only to find that we are afraid of the fire and have forgotten the real reason for preparing to see God?
Regarding the question: “Why should we not be afraid to draw near to a holy God?” I do not find anywhere in the Scripture that God places a condition on the one who wants to draw near.
One could assume that he/she who desires to draw near to Him derives this motivation from the heart longing for the nearness and personal rapport with the Father. He is available to the sinner seeking Him and crying out to Him, and all who have already decided to live their life according to His Gospel of the heavenly kingdom here on earth.
John 6:37-40 – Jesus is quoted saying: ”All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
I think it wise for all of us to ask Him to examine our heart to see if there is anything that hinders us from approaching our heavenly Father with confidence and assurance – Psalm 139:23-24.
I agree with you, Brigitte. I was troubled by the final question too. The prodigal son did not need to clean himself up before he returned to his father. He just had to come.
There was something about this lesson that I didn't like. If the people's reaction to Sinai showed a lack of faith, then why does Deuteronomy 5:28 quote God as saying, "Everything they said was good." Reading the rest of Exodus 19 also does not seem to give any indication that it was God's plan that everyone come up the mountain (see vs. 21, 24) Also, I am left to wonder why Jesus didn't come with a fearful demonstration of God's power? It seems to me there's something else going on here. After all, the author of Hebrews contrasts two experiences in Hebrews 12. I think the people's reaction to Mount Sinai was fairly normal and I personally feel God was trying to show them their need of Him. That sets the stage for a savior.
Christina, you wondered why Jesus didn't come as a fearful demonstration.
The answer is in Phil. 2:6-8
6Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to
7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
This is what we gain in Christ; this same humility that won't think of ourselves as greater than anyone else, but holds ourselves as servants of God and our neighbors.