The Mountain

“Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.”  Exodus 19:17-18 AMPC

When I read this today, I just sat for a minute and tried to imagine what it would have been like to see and experience this. Seriously, to physically see a mountain suddenly hit with fire and start smoking and then shaking would bring the fear of God instantly! 

God, in His wisdom, knew the Israelites needed to see and hear God in a way they wouldn’t forget so they would believe Moses when he told them what the Lord spoke to him. Even after all God had already done for them, it didn’t take much for the Israelites to start complaining and questioning Moses about where God was leading them and what His intentions were for them.

Thankfully God is full of mercy, love, and grace because they certainly did test Him. And, so do we. How quickly we forget God’s goodness, His provision, how He has come through for us time and time again, etc. It’s good to put ourselves in this story and get a wake up call to the power, might, and awesome glory of the One and only King of kings and Lord of lords.