Old Testament Survey

Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

a. Let not God speak with us: One might think that Israel loved the dramatic experience at Mount Sinai, and especially the honor of hearing God’s voice like a loudspeaker from heaven. Instead, because of the great awe and dread they felt, they wanted God to stop speaking to them directly.

And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”

a. Do not fear; for God has come to test you: The people of Israel wanted to separate themselves from the manifest presence of God, but God meant it for good to test them.

· The test revealed to them what kind of God they served: a God above nature, personal, good, and holy.

· The test revealed to them what God’s expectations were, that God is a moral God who expects moral behavior from His people.

· The test revealed to them their own weakness and need for God’s grace, help, and rescue.

b. That His fear may be before you: This distinguishes between two kinds of fear. Do not fear speaks of the tormenting fear that comes from both guilt and danger. That His fear may be before you speaks of the attitude of honor and reverence that leads to respect and obedience.