Henry Blackaby would have been right at home with the Israelites. He has repeatedly said that it’s best to decide to obey God before He even speaks.
This willingness to obey puts us in a position where God can use us and we can truly feel His presence.
So Moses went, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.
The people all answered as one, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord (Exodus 19.7-8).
The Hebrews promised Moses they would follow the Lord’s commands. Even though they didn’t know what these orders were, like Dr. Blackaby suggests, they decided to obey anyway.
Because of their terrible experiences with Pharaoh, they knew that God would be much kinder than the king.
Sadly, their promise didn’t hold. As we read further in Exodus, it will become clear that these promises were hollow and they strayed from God. This is when we learn about God’s everlasting grace.
Let’s thank God for His kindness. In our video today, Rudy Ross and I admit that we’ve broken promises to God swiftly. We’re thankful for His love and his grace towards us.
Consecration
The early days of God’s people act as a blueprint for how God interacts with humans. We learn that God is incredibly holy and we must ready our hearts to be in his presence.
The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes
“And prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people” (Exodus 19.10-11).
Jesus called us his friends (John 15.14), which is a wonderful gift. However, the experience of John, who was very close to Jesus, teaches us something more.
The book of Revelation tells that when John saw the heavenly Lord, he fell down as if he were dead (Revelation 1.17). This shows we need to balance our friendship with Jesus with respect for his greatness.
J.B. Phillips wrote an insightful little book, Your God is Too Small. In it, he explains how we often simplify God to being merely a larger version of humans. While God is our friend, his grandeur demands awe and respect.
God’s amazing holiness was so powerful that the children of Israel couldn’t even touch the mountain where God planned to meet Moses.
“You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death'” (Exodus 19.12).
Today’s Application
What can we learn from this important point in Israel’s history? Let’s apply it in our lives today.
(1) The Importance of Obedience: Let’s learn from Dr. Blackaby and decide in advance to do whatever God asks of us. This is the best path for our lives.
(2) Hearts Prepared for God’s Presence: Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, repentance, and self-examination prepare our hearts to draw near to God and experience His holiness.
(3) Balancing Friendship and Awe of God: God is both our loving friend and the Almighty Creator. We do well to approach God with respect and humility, recognizing his nature and awesome character.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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