Exodus 19:7-8 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
Very soon after saying that they would do all that the Lord has spoken, the IsraelitesSin, repeated the same sinful cycle again and again, generation upon generation. But, in this moment there is this heart-felt emotion, a genuine response that pleased God because of obedience. We are all like the Israelites in that we tell the Lord that we are never going to do some sinful thought, word or deed again, and the Lord knows our own sinful cycle of the fallen flesh desires and our future. Sins against a just and holy God that cost Jesus Christ His life to pay for. We need to overcome our sins; that is part of walking with God. Galatians 5:22-25 tells us, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Part of our discipleship life is to live out the calling of Jesus, and in that time, Jesus receive every honest and humble attempt that shows we are trying to take a step in the godly and right direction. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Exodus 19:9-25 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 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. And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them.
God tells the Israelite people to spiritually prepare themselves for God presence, consecrating themselves for this moment. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” There is a healthy fear that every Believer should have in their life, and that is the reverential fear of the Lord. When in doubt, come boldly before the Lord, but come with a healthy fear of God. We need to have a healthy fear of the Lord in our lives as it pertains to how we approach God and our very real need to trusting His ways over our own ways. A healthy sense of fear of the Lord keeps us soft and sensitive to the voice of God. That Healthy fear of the Lord keeps us grounded and check ourselves to see if there is any wicked way inside us that displeases the Lord, so He can help us to overcome it.
We are not to question things in a disrespectful way towards God, our Maker. God tells Job in Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” Isaiah 45:9 illustrates this point, “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?” Romans 9:20 confirms this stating, But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” God is God and we are not.
God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We approach God knowing that His thoughts and ways are above ours, but also approach Him knowing that He loves us and cares for us. As our perfect heavenly Father, he wants the best outcome for our lives in the situations that we are dealing with too. When times get hard, we approach God knowing that He is there with us in the midst of it. Pastor Kyle is not saying that we cannot ask God questions. God really wants our thoughtful and honest questions, along with whatever we are currently going though straight to Him, in relationship with Him, which pleasing Him. But, we need a healthy fear of God when we come to Him.
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
The difference in reality between the God-fearing Israelites and Believers today is the reality of Jesus Christ. We have a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and intercedes for us. We have a High priest who knows what it is to be a human; that has lived and experienced life the way that we do, yet without sin. And because Jesus Christ is our high priest, we can go boldly before God on the throne of grace. The best news ever is that Jesus Christ came from Heaven to Earth, died an atoning death in our place to redeem and reconcile us unto God, who sent Him. In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
Now, God wants to meet His children, citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, wherever we are at. But, we have to make the time to meet with Him. He will meet us where we are at, but He may not keep us where we are at in life because He has something better in mind for you and I to pivot towards next season on this journey. Just come and meet with God, your heavenly Father, daily; you are welcome there. He is glad to see you. With God, nobody is a nobody.
In Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
Happy Easter, Brian
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