9-22-15. Exodus 20:18-26. Fear God/Worship God-my devotional

Exodus 20:18-26                                                                            Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 20:20                                                                            9-22-15

“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(NIV)

Part 1: Being Afraid Of God Verses Fearing God (18-21)

We will investigate the difference between being afraid of God and having a fear of God. Verses 18-21, “18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”

The Lord appeared to his people in such a majestic way. He appeared in the thunder and lightning, accompanied by a trumpet blast. The mountain was filled with smoke. The people saw the glory of their awesome and powerful God. No one, among the millions of Israelites, had any problem interpreting what was going on. They knew who was the cause of all the blasts and they were afraid.

It was alright that they were a little fearful of God, but they trembled in fear and stayed away at a distance. (18) It was almost like they were about to turn around and run away for fear of being destroyed. Maybe they thought the mountain was about to spew volcanic ash and lava all over them. They cried out to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”(19) They were crying out to Moses, too afraid to hear words from God himself.

Apparently this was a test from the Lord. Verse 20 reads, “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’” The test was, would they run and close their hearts or would they stay and listen and enter into a covenant relationship with God?

Throughout the Bible we find the phrase do not be afraid. God was not trying to scare the people. He was showing his mighty power so that the Israelites would know the way to the true God and the true way and would therefore commit themselves to him in trust and faith and obey him. If they would do this, he would be their God and they would be his people. He would make his power available to them.

The Israelites were about to fail the test and run. But God raised up Moses to help them pass the test. Moses stood up to serve his priestly role once again. “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’” He knew God’s heart and God’s plan. It was never God’s intention for the Israelites to turn their back and run, never to listening to their Lord. Instead of being afraid they needed to have a fear of God in order to listen, learn and obey.

There is big difference between being afraid of God and fearing God. Being afraid of God causes us to stay at a distance. We keep God at arms length and don’t listen to him. Being afraid paralyzes our senses and makes us prisoners of Satan. We are ready to run to the hills.

Having a fear of God produces within us an awesome respect for God. We want to listen to God. We are compelled to obey him, because we respect him and are thankful that he is our Deliverer. (Ex 20:1) We are eager to enter into a covenant relationships with him. The fear of God keeps us from sinning. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Pr 9:10).

God does not demand everything from us before he reaches out to us to draw us to himself.  We would think that the people would have to turn around and run back to the mountain, tearfully repenting of their sins, and falling prostate at the foot of the mountain, before God would even consider them as passing his test.  But they didn’t have to go that far. Verse 21 reads, “The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” The people simply had to stand and listen to Moses by faith.

Then peoples’ hearts were slightly quieted by Moses’ words of encouragement. They did not turn and run. The stayed, but still remained at a distance. It was hard for them, but they trusted in Moses enough to trust in God, despite the display of God’s awesome power. They were demonstrating faith in God. Now they were ready to respond to God. God had showed him his grace. He gave them the Ten Commandments and now he was about to give additional laws that would bless them as a nation. The people were about to listen and submit themselves to a covenant relationship with God.

The cross of Jesus makes it possible for us to pass the test and come to God rightly. On our own we would run and hide, crying out for the hills to cover us. But the cross made it possible for all who are far off, to now come near. Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Thank God for his grace, making us holy by the blood of Jesus and inviting us into his presence. It is all because of the glorious Gospel.

How many people in this world, believe that God exists, but are afraid of coming to him because they are afraid of God? They may be afraid of his judgment. They may think that standing off at a distance, trembling in fear is the right response. Such people are entrapped by darkness. They need the light of the Gospel to set them free and enter into God’s holy presence by faith in the blood of Jesus.

Part 2: Those Who Fear God Worship In God’s Way (22-26)

God introduces some specific details about the altar of sacrifice in verses 22-26. They read, “22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. 24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.”

An altar is a place of worship. It is a place where people come to offer burnt offerings to the Lord as an act of worship. It was also a way, at this time, of receiving atonement for their sins. The altar was a holy place, for it was a place where people come to approach their Creator and Lord.

First, God was giving his people an education about worship and so he gave specific directions for building altars. God’s people had no Bible and few religious traditions to learn from. God had to start from scratch and teach them how to worship him. And so now, he was going to start with the altar.

Second, God wanted them to know that God’s way is the best way. No tool was to be used in an attempt to embellish the altar. It was perfectly beautiful in the eyes of God. Less is more in this case. One can not beautify more what God has declared beautiful. Take a tool to the stone, desiring to mold it into one’s personal likes and dislikes, pollutes the original message. The altar need to be totally natural, build out of stones just as God hewed them with the elements of nature. Things created by God reveals his glory. God makes things beautiful. Would you try to beautify Jesus’ manger? Would you try to beautify the cross? No! They are given to us by God and they are beautiful all by themselves. We marvel at their beauty.

Third, God wanted worship to unfold in his way. God is not against creativity. After all he is the Creator God. We are made in his image and are therefore creative too. He invites us to express creativity in so many realms. But God is against creating our own ways to approach him.

There was not to be steps going up to the altar. Verse 26 reads, “And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.” If people attempted to make altar according to their own plans, with steps, they would become exposed. It is a warning about the results of ignoring God’s way of worship. When people insist on worshipping their own way, they are exposing their own moral nakedness.

Fourth, God hates idolatry. God wanted to ordain the proper way for sacrifices to be offered. In order to stop idolatry from creeping into worshipping, God did not allow the altar stone to be cut or shaped in any form or just anywhere. This altar was designed so that people don’t go off and start their own religion, making changes to God’s design.  People must be careful not to worship anything their own hands have made. Idolatry slips into peoples’ hearts easily, but we must fear God and guard against idols.

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for helping me to come into your holy presence through the blood of Jesus. Thank you for cultivating a healthy fear of God in my heart. Teach me to worship you your way.”

One Word: Fear God and worship God his way.