By David Faust

The 19th chapter of Exodus sounds strange to twenty-first century ears because we have grown accustomed to irreverence. Outside the church we’re more likely to hear God’s name used in profanity than in prayer. Even inside the church it’s not uncommon to hear the Lord described like a big brother in the sky or a kind-hearted neighbor rather than the sovereign King. We shouldn’t approach the Lord with a flippant, over-confident attitude, but with the utmost humility and respect.

Exodus 19 serves as a reality check when we’re tempted to be too casual about the Lord. At Mount Sinai God warned the people, “Stay away from the mountain! Keep your distance. Don’t push forward and get too close.” Even Moses and Aaron had to watch their step in the presence of the Almighty.

How can we square this chapter with a New Testament text like James 4:8 that invites us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you”? God is a welcoming, loving Father. He invites us to come close through Christ; but in our love for God, we should never forget about reverence. A Persian proverb says, “He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.”

As Respect Expands, Appreciation Grows

The more we respect God’s holiness, the more we appreciate his grace. By his very nature God is holy—set apart from all that is ordinary or evil. How could imperfect people like us enjoy fellowship with a perfect God? It took the sacrifice of his sinless Son to bridge the gap. At Sinai the message was, “Be careful that you do not approach the mountain” (Exodus 19:12). Under the new covenant the message is, “Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16).

The more we respect God’s silence, the more we appreciate his words. There have been seasons in human history when “the word of the Lord was rare” (1 Samuel 3:1), but at Mount Sinai God broke his silence and told Moses plainly, “These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites” (Exodus 19:6). There will always be a lot of mystery about God, but aren’t you thankful he has revealed so much about himself through the Scriptures? When God speaks, he deserves our full attention.

The more we respect God’s power, the more we appreciate his approachability. Human beings are multi-dimensional combinations of seriousness and silliness, purposefulness and playfulness, mystery and mirth. The better we get to know others and the different facets of their personalities, the deeper our relationship can grow. And so it is in our relationship with God. The more we learn about God’s attributes through prayerful study of the Scriptures, the more we realize what a privilege it is to enjoy fellowship with him.

The Lord revealed himself on Mount Sinai with lightning, thunder, clouds, smoke, an earthquake, and loud trumpet blasts. “Everyone in the camp trembled” (Exodus 19:16) in God’s presence. Yet, this is the same God who lovingly carried his people “on eagle’s wings” (v. 4)—the same gracious God who called the Israelites (and us) to be his holy people.

“Therefore . . . let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). Let’s approach the Father boldly but humbly, with an attitude that says, “Hallowed be your name.”

David Faust serves as the Associate Minister at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Based on International Sunday School Lesson, © 2013, by the Lesson Committee. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.

As you apply today’s Scripture study to everyday life, read Engage Your Faith by David Faust and the correlating Evaluation Questions.