Read

Hebrews 12:18-24

¹⁸You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai when God gave them his laws. ¹⁹For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice with a message so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. ²⁰They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” ²¹Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

²²No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. ²³You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect. ²⁴You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.

Reflect

I never like anyone telling what I did wrong. I can stand a little constructive criticism but please don’t tell me everything that is wrong with me. I can only take so much before I can’t bear to hear any more.

Imagine then, what the Israelites must have felt like when they heard God’s voice. Not only was God speaking to them, he had a message for them that was so terrible that they couldn’t bear to hear it. They begged God to stop speaking to them.

Today, we have the distinct opportunity to speak with God directly because of what Jesus did on the cross. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can come to God without being “terrified and trembling”.

Respond

What do you think God’s voice sounds like? Have you heard it?

Why were the Israelites so afraid of hearing God’s voice?

Have you ever wished that you could sit down and have a conversation with God? If so, what questions would you ask Him?

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