How does Exodus 19:20 illustrate God's holiness and approachability? The Verse in Focus “Then the LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.” (Exodus 19:20) Holiness Highlighted • The LORD “came down” in visible majesty (cf. 19:18)—fire, smoke, trembling earth. Creation itself reacts because He is utterly set apart. • He stops “on the top of the mountain,” not in the camp. Height marks separation; sinners cannot rush in unprepared (19:12-13). • Earlier boundaries, warnings, and impending death for trespassers (19:21-24) underscore that His holiness is lethal to the defiled. • This literal descent affirms the text’s accuracy—God truly manifested in a location and manner of His choosing, reinforcing that His holiness is objective, not symbolic only. Approachability Shown • The same verse that proclaims distance also declares invitation: “the LORD called Moses … and Moses went up.” • God initiates; Moses does not climb unbidden. Approach is possible because God graciously summons. • A mediator stands between God and the people (19:3, 9). The pattern anticipates the ultimate Mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 12:24). • Moses’ safe ascent proves that God desires relationship, not mere spectacle. Balancing Awe and Access • Holiness without approachability breeds despair; approachability without holiness breeds irreverence. • Exodus 19:20 holds both: the mountain shakes, yet a man is welcomed. • The principle continues: “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11). • At Calvary the veil was torn (Matthew 27:51), but God’s character has not changed. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence,” even while Hebrews 12:28-29 warns that “our God is a consuming fire.” Echoes Throughout Scripture • Isaiah 6:1-5 — Holy, holy, holy; yet Isaiah’s lips are purified so he may stay. • Leviticus 10:1-3 — Unauthorized approach leads to death, confirming the Sinai lesson. • Psalm 99:5, 9 — “Exalt the LORD … He is holy.” • John 1:14 — “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” the ultimate descent. • Hebrews 12:18-24 — We have not come to Sinai’s terror only, but to Zion’s welcoming assembly through the sprinkled blood. Living Response • Stand in reverent awe: God is still holy; casual worship insults His majesty. • Draw near when He calls: in Christ we have fuller access than Moses ever knew (Ephesians 2:18). • Embrace mediation: only through the appointed Mediator do we approach safely. • Proclaim both truths: a God who is infinitely holy and shockingly approachable is good news the world needs to hear. |
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