What the Bible says about Israel's Refusal at Mount Sinai
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Deuteronomy 5:4-5 further expounds on this. The people's rejection was at least partly based on their own accurate recognition of their sinfulness. Despite the fact that they were cleaned up, their recognition of their sinfulness—when confronted with God's holiness, which was demonstrated by the mountain quaking, lightning cracking huge peals of thunder, and the trumpet blaring—was why God accepted their proposal immediately. "Stop them from coming any closer," He told Moses. Therefore, their refusal to draw near to God was based on a correct assessment of their unacceptability to do the job of a priest—despite the fact that they had cleansed themselves and their clothing, externally.
John W. Ritenbaugh
New Covenant Priesthood (Part One)
God tells Moses that the Israelites were correct in their fear. What does He mean by this? Probably, He means that they would indeed have died if they had had any further direct contact with Him. Paul gives a taste of the sheer terror and expectation of death the Israelites felt in Hebrews 12:18-21, 25-29.
Staff
The ProphetRelated Topics: Fear at Mount Sinai | Fear of God | Israel's Refusal at Mount Sinai | Israelites' Fear of God
We have no excuse for refusing the obligations that God's calling puts us under. God clearly accepted Israel's refusal at Mount Sinai, but He cannot accept ours, because we have been cleansed internally to be acceptable. We cannot claim to be unacceptable because He has cleansed us. Not we ourselves, He did it. By doing so, He put us into a position where we cannot refuse. Sure, we can be hardheaded and stiff-necked and say "No." But no one in his right mind will refuse the privilege that God has given us.
John W. Ritenbaugh
New Covenant Priesthood (Part One)Related Topics: Cleansing | Cleansing by the Word of God | Cleansing, Internal | Israel's Refusal at Mount Sinai | New Covenant Priesthood