January 30, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Tenderness and Trembling

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Opening Prayer

Lord, I speak words of praise, adoration and thanksgiving to You today. I rejoice before You.

Read Exodus 19:1-25

[1] In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on the very day-they came to the Desert of Sinai. [2] After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. [3] Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: [4] ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” [7] So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. [8] The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. [9] The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. [10] And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes [11] and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. [12] Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. [13] He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.” [14] After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. [15] Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” [16] On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. [17] Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. [18] Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, [19] and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. [20] The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up [21] and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. [22] Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” [23] Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'” [24] The LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them.” [25] So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Reflect

“He isn’t safe, but he is good” (C.S. Lewis, through one of his Narnia characters). How very true!

Seven weeks after God spectacularly broke their chains of bondage and brought them out of Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai. The desert air was thick with anticipation as God prepared to encounter his people and issue the words of the covenant he was making with them. It was a solemn occasion and a terrifying one. The people had to prepare themselves for the divine encounter by consecrating themselves, washing their clothes and abstaining from sexual relations (14,15). Such was the sacredness of their meeting with God. God’s presence was marked by frightening thunder, blinding lightning and palpitation-causing trumpet blasts. No wonder everyone trembled (16)! God’s weighty presence was felt by the mountain, too. Covered with a mysterious thick cloud, it trembled violently (18). We have lost much of our sense of God’s awesome presence in these secularized days.

Strangely and unexpectedly, amid that terrifying trembling, we hear the most tender words from God: “I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself” (4). He declared that Israel was his “treasured possession”–a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (5,6). These deeply personal and intimate words were whispered across the terrifying chasm between a holy God and his sinful and ignorant people.

Today, in our eagerness to speak about our intimacy with God, we forget that God is awesomely different from us. We sing songs that sound like popular love songs, and in that superficial sentimentality we forget that God is both stern and kind (Rom. 11:22). If we tremble in God’s presence and at the same time hear his tender words of love, then we have met the biblical God, the true and living God.

Apply

Ask the Lord to help you stand at the foot of the cross and tremble—and also hear tender words of forgiveness and love from the lips of Jesus.

Closing prayer

Caring God, it is amazing to think of Your love for me and how special I am to You. May my life be worthy of such grace.

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