The Israelites were terrified by the manifestations of God’s presence at Mount Sinai. Moses’ subsequent message to them contains what seems to be contrary ideas. On the one hand he tells them not to be afraid, and then immediately tells them that the fear of the LORD will keep them from sinning. The ‘fear of the LORD’ is an important response to God, and, in fact, it is said to be the beginning of all true wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 9:10). Moses’ words here show us that this ‘fear’ does not entail being scared of God as the Israelites were at this point. The fear of the LORD comes from the experience of intimate encounter with the transcendent greatness of God. It is like being awestruck. John exemplifies this response in Revelation 1:17 when his experience of God’s glory in Christ causes him to fall down as though dead. Here also John is told not to be afraid. In a sense God is saying, “You need not be afraid, John, because this greatness is not to be wielded against you but for you”. It is appropriate to be awestruck by God’s greatness but not to be afraid, for it is this very greatness that works all things for our good. God does not scare us. His presence does not inspire cowering. God inspires a kind of fear that compels us to worship him with joy. In directing Moses to build an altar God was inviting his people to come to him rather than run from him. God invites you to an intimate experience of his transcendent greatness through worship.
Worship God and ask him to draw you closer to him.
Read Exodus 20:18-26.
