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Exodus 19 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
When I read how the people trembled with fear at the thunder and lightning, I think about the lion from the Wizard of Oz and how terrified he was. I also wonder if we take the reverence of God casually. Scientifically, trembling in fear is our response to the “fight or flight” mechanism. When adrenaline overwhelms our nervous system, we shake uncontrollably with energy and our mind immediately wants to flee the scene.
Consider the fact that the people did not even see God. They just felt his presence through the dark, dismal, and distant electric cloud. It’s frightening and amazing all at the same time. I’ve said this before, but I think we will all be surprised when we enter into the presence of Almighty God. Some people say things like “When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask God why he made mosquitoes!”
From what we read in Scripture, it’s more likely your bodily systems will begin the process of shutting down. We will most likely have a hard enough time controlling our tremors, let alone being able to utter one single word. Just about everyone who was confronted by the living God (or the heavenly Christ) fell flat on their faces in terror.
So, I wonder – do we really think about that during a typical day? Do we approach the Father with reverence and fear, or, as a genie in a bottle? Do we marvel at Christ who allows us into God’s presence? Do we even consider the fact that God could wipe us from the Earth faster than we could blink? Finally, do we understand that a Being this powerful loved us enough to redeem our lives for eternity?