I’m pretty excited about a series that we are going to be starting next week, 2.10.10, on the 10 commandments. The series will be titled, “The 10 commandments : OT vs NT.” The study is going to help us understand how Jesus incorporated these commandments into his teachings, and into the law of Christ. As I was preparing for the start of this study, I came across Exodus 19:18-19.
“Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and it’s smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered Him with thunder. Ex. 19:18-19
Upon reading this, my mind was filled with so much visual imagery surrounding this verse. What did it look like to Moses and the Hebrew people as they stood at the foot of the mountain and watched God come down?…the Holiest of holies touching down on our soil. I picture something like the scene of the alien arrival in the movie “Independence Day;” a burst of flames and smoke as God entered our atmosphere and His presence sat down upon the top of Mount Sinai. The sight was so overwhelmingly powerful, the people stood at a distance and refused to draw near. (20:18, 21) They even requested that only Moses speak to them for fear of dying if they heard God’s voice. (20:19)
We, the NT believers, have full access to the throne room of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus. He died, bearing our sins, and created a way for man to commune with God – the veil tore from top to bottom – an invitation for us to come and abide in Him. In Exodus, Moses received this invitation from God. The mountain quaked as it’s peak erupted in fire and smoke, yet Moses gathered his courage and entered the thick cloud where God was. (20:21) Is this not a picture of our churches today? Many gather near the presence of God, yet few actually enter in. We feel the drawing into His presence, yet we also feel the fear of allowing God to consume us – to invade us. But it is those who enter in that are changed forever – that will see the greatness of God in this life. We closed out our night together with an invitation to enter in – to conquer our fear and step into the cloud where God is. We should be careful not to approach the throne room of God casually – the presence of God is truly powerful, explosive, and invading, yet He invites us with love and grace to enter in and abide in Him. And we will be changed…