God’s Invitation
Read Hebrews 12:18–21. What was the experience of Israel at Mount
Sinai?
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When God called the Israelites 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 ” ’ ” (Exod. 19:3, 4, NKJV).
Thus, through Moses, God gave the necessary instructions to prepare the
people to meet with Him. The people needed to consecrate themselves first
(Exod. 19:10–15). Those who ascended to the foot of the mountain without
preparation would die. Nevertheless, once the people had prepared them-
selves 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’ ” (Exod. 19:13, ESV). He wanted them to have the expe-
rience Moses and the leaders of the people would have when they
ascended the mountain and “beheld God, and ate and drank” in His
presence (Exod. 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” ’ ” (Deut. 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’ ” (Deut. 5:5, ESV). Instead, they asked Moses to be
their intermediary (Deut. 5:25–27, compare with Exod. 20:18–21).
God’s manifestation of His holiness at Mount Sinai was to teach the
people to learn to “fear,” or respect, Him. The “fear of the Lord” leads
to life, wisdom, and honor (Deut. 4:10; compare with Ps. 111:10, Prov.
1:7, Prov. 9:10, Prov. 10:27)—and also to the lesson that He is merciful
and gracious (Exod. 34:4–8). Thus, while God wanted Israel to come
to Him, the people became afraid and requested for Moses to be their
intermediary. The description in Hebrews of the events at Sinai follows,
primarily, Moses’ reminder to 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 (Deut. 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?