In this next installment of the series exploring why Christ Had to Die, we pick up with the Israelites who had just entered into an agreement with God to live out the Law that was mediated through Moses. This was a new season in the life of these chosen people, and God would be there at every step. However, there was a problem. A problem that grips every human at some point in time. Whether it’s chronic, seasonal, or one-time, every person breathing can relate to the problem the Israelites are about to face. The problem is a universal problem, and it is the problem of fear. Fear is gripping. Fear is paralyzing. And if fear isn’t properly understood, it will dominate the whole of a person. But what caused the Israelites to fear…or to be afraid? God had just mediated through Moses the way through which He would now permit humanity to be in a relationship with Him. The reason for their being afraid is the reality of seeing and experiencing God for who He is…
“All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking…”
Exodus 20:18a
Just like that, God appears in His power. He’s upon the Mountain of Sinai, and He is making a way for a broken humanity to relate to Him–it is an awesome display of might and a glorious demonstration of power. God is moving through creation, and the people are watching as it all takes place. In fact, “…when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.” It was too much to bear, and they began to withdraw and said to Moses, “…Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.” They had just entered into an agreement with God. They were to be God’s conduits to the nations–to display His justice, love, and provision for fellowship with Him. The Law would guide them, and they would be His people. But, they were overwhelmed–they were subdued by the might and power of God, and they began to be afraid.
It is here where Moses leads the people of God to not remove fear from their experience, but to correct it and to calibrate it properly…
“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
Exodus 20:20
Fear, Moses says, is a good thing. He makes a clear distinction between fear and being afraid. Fear is clearly different, and it is the same word that Solomon will use to explain what is the beginning of wisdom in Proverbs 9:10. In other words, Moses is correcting their view of fear with a proper application of how they shall approach God. Fear, as Moses instructs the people is reverential awe. It is not an absence of love and relationship, but rather an appropriate respect for authority and power within a relationship. Moses is saying to the people of God, revere God, respect God, be in awe of God, but do not be afraid of God–He’s making a way to be in a relationship with Him. God is reaching down into humanity to bring them to Himself, so come to Him with reverential awe of His power and might…come. Being afraid paralyzes and does not approach and pursue a relationship. Thus, Moses makes the clear distinction…God is to be feared (respected and held in reverential awe), but they are not to be afraid (so as to pull back and not pursue God in a relationship). The reason? So that the people of God might not sin. That is the point of fear over being afraid. Fearing God keeps one from sin, because sin is a clear contamination of a relationship. As the people of God feared God, they would sin less, and as the Law continues to unfold, they will have the way by which they can atone for their sin year after year.
What an amazing God…He has made a way, and the people of God are called to fear Him with reverential awe.
How does this apply to us today?
Do you fear God? Do you view your relationship with Him as one of awe and reverence? The litmus test? How do you deal with your sin? Do you take it lightly when you lash out in anger…or continue to feed your addictions to ____? How do you handle not being in control of your life situations…a boss…a coworker? What about not getting the promotion, and so you begin to gossip? What about how you treat your children…do you outsource their spiritual guidance to others…are you taking initiative with nurturing their hearts?
At some level we all fail…and so we live afraid. We pull back from our relationship with God when we sin instead of approaching God with repentance in fear through Christ. And this is yet another reason why Christ had to die…
— March 17, 2017