Exodus 19:16 - Meaning and Application

Now, at last, comes that unforgettable day, that terrible day of the Lord, that day of judgment, when Israel heard the voice of the Lord God speaking to them from the fire and still lived (Deuteronomy 4:33). Never was there a sermon like this one, before or since, preached to the church in the wilderness.

The preacher was God himself. The Lord came down in fire and descended on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18, 20). The glorious presence of the Lord appeared before all the people. He shone from Mount Paran with ten thousands of his holy ones (Deuteronomy 33:2), meaning he was attended by a great host of holy angels, as the divine Majesty always is, to honor the event and help carry it out. That is why the law is said to have been given through angels (Acts 7:53).

The pulpit, or rather the throne, was Mount Sinai itself. It was wrapped in a thick cloud (Exodus 19:16), covered with smoke (Exodus 19:18), and made to shake greatly. Then the earth trembled before the Lord, and the mountains leaped like rams (Psalm 114:4, 7). Even Sinai, rough and rocky though it was, melted before the Lord God of Israel (Judges 5:5). The mountains saw him and trembled (Habakkuk 3:10), and they stood as witnesses against a stubborn, unmoved people who would not be moved by anything.

The people were gathered by the sound of a very loud trumpet (Exodus 19:16), and it kept growing louder and louder (Exodus 19:19). This was done by the ministry of angels, for we also read of trumpets sounded by angels (Revelation 8:6). The trumpet made all the people tremble, because they knew their own guilt and had reason to think this sound might be an alarm of war for them.

Moses brought the people to the meeting place (Exodus 19:17). The same man who had led them out of Egypt’s slavery now led them to receive God’s law from his mouth. Public leaders are truly a blessing when they use their place to support the public worship of God. Moses leading a worshiping assembly was just as great as Moses leading an army in the field.

The opening signs of the service were thunder and lightning (Exodus 19:16). These were meant to fill the people with awe and to wake and focus their attention. If they were sleepy, the thunder would awaken them. If they were looking elsewhere, the lightning would turn their faces toward the one who was speaking. Thunder and lightning have natural causes, but Scripture tells us especially to notice God’s power and fearsome majesty in them. Thunder is the voice of God, and lightning is the fire of God. Together they strike both the eye and the ear, the senses through which we receive so much of what we know.

Moses, God’s servant, was also told to keep order and silence among the people. Some think this was when he said, “I tremble with fear” (Hebrews 12:21). Yet God quieted his fear by showing him special favor and calling him up to the top of the mountain (Exodus 19:20). That also tested Moses’ faith and courage. But as soon as Moses had gone partway up the mountain, he was sent back down to keep the people from breaking through to look at what was happening (Exodus 19:21). Even the priests, or leaders of the families who served for their households, had to keep their distance and act with great care.

Moses argued that no further warning was needed, since enough had already been done to keep people back (Exodus 19:23). But God, who knew how stubborn and bold they could be, and what was in the hearts of some of them, quickly sent him back down with this command: neither the priests nor the people were to try to cross the boundary and come up to the Lord. Only Moses and Aaron were to come near, the men whom God chose to honor.

Notice what God forbade them from doing: breaking through to gaze. Enough had been shown to awaken their consciences, but they were not allowed to feed a vain curiosity. They might look, but they must not stare. Some of them may have wanted to see some visible form, so they could make an image of God, and God guarded against that. They saw no form at all (Deuteronomy 4:5). In spiritual matters, we must not want to know more than God has chosen to reveal. He has given us all that is good for us. Wanting forbidden knowledge ruined our first parents. Those who try to be wiser than Scripture, and force their way into things they have not seen, need this warning not to break through and gaze.

Also notice the penalty: if they crossed the line, the Lord would break out against them, and many would die (Exodus 19:22-24). God’s warnings and restraints are for our good. They keep us from running into danger through our own foolishness. It is dangerous to cross the boundaries God has set and reach for what he has not allowed. Beth-shemesh and Uzzah paid dearly for their presumption. Even when we are invited to come near to God, we must remember that he is in heaven and we are on earth. So we must approach him with reverence and godly fear.