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. 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? 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.’
When confronted by God at the foot of Mt. Horeb, the people of Israel had enough. They saw the smoke and the fire and heard the voice of God. After a brief time they came to Moses and asked for an intermediary (Moses) to hear God’s Word and then relay it to them. We have to realize that God was in the midst of talking to them when the leaders approach Moses with this request. Imagine such a thing if a dignitary was speaking and someone was fearful of them they asked for a stand-in to hear their words and dumb it down for them later? Imagine!! Yet, this is what the nation of Israel did in the midst of God speaking to them. What would be your response if you were talking to someone and they were so in awe and fear of you they asked for a substitute to deliver the message later? Here is God’s response to the people:
Deuteronomy 5:28-29 (ESV)
“And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
They feared God and that was a good thing. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This is the correct response to being confronted with God. This is why we need someone to stand between us and God. This is who Moses was for the people. This is who Jesus is for us. Let us rejoice that Jesus has become our Moses and has made a way for us to approach God through Him with full assurance of faith:
Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV)
The Full Assurance of Faith
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
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