In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the nation of Israel of her history and the covenant between the Lord and the people. Of course, early in that reminder is the account of the giving of the Ten Commandments. And right along with the story of the commandments being given is the reminder of how the people responded to the whole event.
If you recall, God spoke in the hearing of the people. He made the mountain smoke and quake. And the people of God who saw it were utterly terrified. They were rightly afraid of the holiness and power of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 5:23-27 – 23 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’
The people came to Moses and acknowledged they had heard the voice of God and seen a glimpse of his power. They then asked Moses to serve as a go-between to tell them what God had to say. Why? They were afraid of that might and that purity. They could not imagine that any nation could really see the glory of God and his holiness and his power and still live to tell the tale.
Now, here is the point that makes me write. These people saw the spectacular and heard the voice of God. They rightly assessed the situation by being amazed that they could catch a glimpse of the one true God and live. They understood that God’s holiness is deadly. So they trembled. And in a respectful awe, they asked Moses to represent them to the Lord and to communicate to them for the Lord.
Today, I wonder how many who claim to know the Lord have any concept of this fear. I wonder how many who attend church on a weekly basis can even begin to grasp the holy fear that made the people of God ask Moses to listen in their stead. I wonder how many believe that any person should even think twice before approaching the Lord.
I believe wholeheartedly that Christians have been given the right to approach God in freedom and confidence (Eph. 3:12). I believe that God has adopted believers as his own children (John 1:12-13). I understand that we are made righteous because of the imputed righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). And yet I also know that there is something very right about thinking about how one approaches the Lord. Our God is holy, holy, holy (Rev. 4:8). From his throne come flashes of lightning and rumblings and thunders (Rev. 4:5).
It would be a good thing, I think, if we remembered the holiness of God that caused such trembling in the nation of Israel. It would be good if we were in awe of the concept of a people being allowed in the presence of God. It would be good to shake our heads in wonder at the concept of hearing the words of God and yet living. And then it would be good to enter that presence of God, humbly, under the grace of Jesus, with proper gratitude. I think relearning a little of the fear of God in this way would honor him well even as it helps us to be truly grateful for grace.
Pastor Travis Peterson 