We are in chapter nineteen of Exodus with our word for today. חָרַד tremble, be terrified, hurry, take trouble, worry, startle, be frightened. It is used 39 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Exodus 19:16-17 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד trembled greatly. So first the people were shaking then the whole mountain. What is the cause of all of this shaking? God is meeting the people in a way that shows his great power over all things. The Holy Spirit takes this event and makes this application in the New Testament in how we in relation to our connecting with God. Hebrews 12:18-21 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear. As we can see meeting God can be a terrifying experience but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. The Holy Spirit goes on to contrast how it can be if we are in Christ. Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Accepting Jesus death in our place for our sins makes all the difference in the world. Instead of fear and judgment we get love, grace and acceptance into God’s city and his family. But the Holy Spirit is not finished let’s look at the rest of what he says in the chapter. Hebrews 12:25-29 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Did you see that? Even though we are saved by God’s grace through our faith we still need to relate to God with reverent worship because He is a consuming fire. As saved people we need to stay as close to God as possible and let him change us to be like him as much as possible in a respectful way. We do this because of his love for us. I’ll close with this great perspective. I John 4:17-19 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
