Deuteronomy 5:26
“What mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?”
Exodus 32:35
“And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made”.
We noted on Sunday that, to their surprise, amid the various scary experiences when God revealed himself on Mount Sinai, the people heard God’s voice, and yet they survived – God shows mercy to sinners. Time and again the New Testament records the positives about God’s ancient people without the negatives – Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith but doesn’t mention their many failings. And when Hebrews 12 recounts the fearfulness of encountering God he doesn’t mention the Israelites’ failure in making the golden calf soon after. When I stand before the Almighty, he won’t condemn me for my many faults, but will receive me because of my faith, poor and inadequate as it is. But sin does have to be judged. After the golden calf, three thousand Israelites were put to death by the Levites (Ex.32.28), and then came the plague mentioned in verse 35 of that chapter. My sin does have to be dealt with, but (and I’m so glad about this!) the penalty has already been paid by Jesus on the cross.
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do;
My Saviour’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.
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