“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (19:5-6).
All the people answered together and said, “All that HaShem has spoken we will do” (19:8).
Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because HaShem 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. HaShem came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And HaShem called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up (19:18-20).
While most retellings of what happened on Mount Sinai have Moses going up once, in this chapter we see that there were several going ups and coming downs. One of the times Aaron went up with Moses, and yet in future chapters we see Aaron down with the people and Joshua up with Moses. It was a time!
It was a time to put the fear of God into the Israelites as never before. As if the ten dramatic plagues, the parting of the sea, the drowning of their enemies, the provision of water, quail, and manna weren’t enough, here was a scene to inspire fear and awe!
How often have we thought, “If only God would lead me with a cloud and a pillar of fire!” or “If only I could experience the awesome Presence of God!” We think if we had these experiences, we would be stronger in faith, we’d never doubt, we would live an amazing life of pleasing God.
It seems that isn’t the case. These people had a lot of experiences which affected them for a while. But it was only a while, as we’ll see when we read further. And although we’d like to think we’re better than the people we read about, we all have the same human tendencies.
God is pleased by our faith: And without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible (Hebrews 11:1-3).
Following the above verses, the writer of Hebrews goes on to recount people from the Scriptures who by faith did acts of obedience, or did great exploits, or suffered. Faith is demonstrated in our obedience to God. And ongoing obedience to God requires faith.
My husband and I want, above all, to follow God. We are imperfect and have sins and shortcomings. But by faith, we have moved across this country several times. By faith, I bore and raised ten children. By faith, I have homeschooled them. By faith, Alan has stepped out in full-time ministry, trusting God to provide. Living by faith does not mean following impulses or desires and putting God’s name on it. It means seeking God and obeying Him.
Prayer: You are great, O God! You are awesome! There is no other God beside You! And You are good! Therefore, help me to walk with You by faith, to have the kind of obedience of which you are worthy. Amen.
