Ex 20.20, 21
I always think of God being in Eternal Bright Glory and I have Bible proof in this thinking. However, in one of the most famous chapters in Scripture I see Him in “Thick darkness”. Well, I don’t SEE Him there because no man has ever seen God and seeing anything or anyone in “thick darkness” would be impossible. But the text sees Him there.
Moses is on the mountain. The mountain is covered with smoke and blazing fire just like a volcano. Which is what some “scientists” believe that Sinai is.
[Aside, why would God use a volcano to demonstrate His presence? Let me pose a question that might not seem to relate but you'll get my point in a minute. Was the burning bush real? Moses saw that bush that "burned" but was never consumed. So, what was happening with that bush? My opinion for what its worth is that God can manifest Himself in whatever form He chooses. To Moses the bush looked like it was on fire but it was God using what looked like flames to get Moses attention and to demonstrate His presence. Our invisible God can manifest Himself in forms and shapes in order to be seen. His glory would be such a manifestation. Thus God's presence on Sinai might have looked like what we call a volcano... but it wasn't.]
Moses is on the Mount and the people are at its base. God is on the Mount and has just given Moses the foundation of His Law, the Ten Commandments. The people heard and saw the following: thundering, lightening, sound of a trumpet and the mountain smoking. All of this had an interesting affect on them. They drew back.
The other day I was in the woods near our house. It was a dreary day and looked as if it might rain at any moment. I crested a small ridge in the under brush and out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash. For a split second I though, “Someone just took a picture of me!” I knew that that was a silly thought because I was in the middle of the woods. Then I heard a tremendous clap of thunder like I hadn’t heard in a long time! That clap made my body withdraw.
Have you ever been scared out of your wits by a sudden happening? Whether a sound or a quick action, you whole body went into shock and became so rigid that afterward you were breathless. That is how I felt in the woods. BOOM! AAH! Whew!
At Sinai the people dropped back when they heard and saw all of the mountain madness. Fear does that. It is a normal reaction and I’m sure that I would have been part of that cowering crowd.
However, look at what Moses did, “and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was” (21). Two thing here. God is in “thick darkness” and Moses is wanting to get closer. Why and why? We’ll answer these questions tomorrow.
Until then, what makes you withdraw from God? What draws you closer? Are you close or withdrawn just now? Leave a note and let’s talk about our reticence or resolve in our relationship with Jehovah God.
