Are you ever guilty of trying to keep God at a distance? Let’s look and learn from the Israelites.
Exodus 20:18-26
1. The Israelites saw the lightning and the mountain in smoke. They saw evidence of the power of God before them and heard the thunder and the trumpet. It made them afraid for their lives. They sought to keep God at a distance, frightened of a closer relationship. They did not want God to speak directly to them but wanted Moses to act as intermediary.
Do you ever want to keep God at a distance? Are you content to let a pastor or another tell you what God’s Word says without checking for yourself and allowing the Holy Spirit to open God’s Word and make it clear to You? Do you fear that if you draw closer to God, He will want to change too much in your life? And so, you do not allow Him to speak through His Word or allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of what needs changing.
2. Moses reassured the Israelites but pointed out that this demonstration of God’s power was for their benefit- so they would remember what they had seen. God intended that they remember the Holiness of their God and not sin. It gave them something tangible and visible to hold onto. It was a time of testing. Yet, the Israelites fell into the grave sin of idolatry soon after, proving how little regard Israel took of God warning and demonstration of power.
Each of us has times of testing in our lives. When they come, as they will, we need to remember what we have seen, heard and learned of God, so that in times of testing we can draw strength from that and not fall into sin.
3. While the people remained at a distance, Moses ‘approached the thick darkness where God was,’ v21. Moses was not afraid to approach God – to go into the darkness. He knew if God was there in the darkness, there was nothing to fear.
As we go into dark places in our lives, we need not fear if God is with us.
4. The Israelites saw and heard for themselves, as God spoke them from heaven, verse 22.
Today God has spoken to us through His Son. He continues to speak to us through His Word and through His Holy Spirit who indwells all believers.
5. Through Moses, God again warned Israel not to make idols of silver or gold.
Often times God repeats something, in an effort to imprint it on our minds. How often I’ve read something in my quiet time and then at church found our pastor preaching from the same passage.
6. In verse 24 we see God’s personal involvement with His people. He commanded them to build an altar for their burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. And promises wherever He causes His Name to be honored, He will come to Israel and bless them.
God has not changed. Those who are obedient to God and bring honor to His Name are blessed, John 1:16, Ephesians 1:3.
7. God’s commands about how Israel should build the altar and the way they were to approach him, were specific.
We need to approach God in reverence, remembering He is the Holy One. Too often, it seems, people try to treat God as a mate rather then recognizing who He is – the Almighty. We need that same reverence and awe that Isaiah had, Isaiah 6:1-6 and also the same response of obedience, Isaiah 6:8.
From this passage we learn that God takes the initiative. He has done the same with us, reaching out to us despite our sin and bringing us to Himself, Romans5:8. God comes to his people and gives concrete evidence of Himself. Similarly today God gives ample evidence of Himself, through creation, Romans 1:20 and for believers through the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13-14. God rewards those who seek and serve Him, Matthew 10:41-42, Hebrews 11:6. God blesses His people, John 10:10 and Epesians1:3. With such a mighty and gracious God, why would you want to keep Him at a distance?