Glimpses of Gods Glory Exodus 19

www.insidethebible.ca /glimpses-of-gods-glory-exodus-19/
Micah Hackett
Exodus 19 marks the beginning of Israels encampment at Sinai the mountain of the Law. In this chapter, Israel is
introduced, not to the power of God as at the Red Sea, but the glory of God. They learned by His presence the
importance of a proper attitude before Him: this an attitude was crucial to maintain, because it meant life or death in
many cases. Such is the weight God places on ones attitude toward Himself, for it affects the honor given to Him
and our obedience. The purpose of this article is not for mere information, but rather for our hearts that we might fear
God with a greater zeal and thus obey in the way He demands.

Firstly we notice from our chapter the general nature of Gods glory. Verse 19 says Lo I come to thee in a thick
cloud. Only would it be necessary to descend in a thick cloud if there was great glory to be covered glory that is
beyond the capabilities of man to conceive glory that is beyond mans limit to see glory that is beyond mans
depravity and ability to appreciate and withstand. When considering the glory of God, we need to understand that it
is actually a reflection of His Person. In fact, we could define glory as the expression of Gods holiness that which
defines and surrounds His very being. Thus, where there is great and magnificent glory, we can conclude that God
is indeed tremendously awesome: we should learn to appreciate the unfathomable nature of the God we serve and
cry in wonder as the angels did so long ago, Holy, Holy, Holy! The whole earth is filled with His glory!
Secondly consider the holiness of Gods glory.. There shall not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be stones or shot
through, whether it be beast or man (v 13). Holiness denotes the set apart nature of a person, object, or place. In
this case, the holiness of Gods glory also caused the mountain on which it sat to be holy. One can look back to a
similar occasion in Moses life when God said Take off your shoes, for the place you stand upon is holy ground.
Why did He say this? Because Gods glorified presence represented in the bush made that place set apart a place
righteously distinguished from the rest. So it was several months later in the same mountain: Gods presence
rendered Sinai untouchable except for the select few whom God allowed to draw closer to Him. Such is the weight of
our Gods holiness: it is not to be trifled with as if nothing.
Thirdly, the power of Gods glory should be mentioned as we see in verse 16 the thunder and lightning associated
with it. In Greek mythology, Zeus was the head god the god of lightning. Pagan worshippers understood the fear
that lightning stuck into mans heart because of its power. Yet at Sinai, this was no weather show, but a display of
Gods omnipotence. It is foolishness for a man to limit the God of eternity. Over and over again the Israelites learned
the mistake of doing this, for as they would forget their Creator and Redeemer, He would surely remind them of the
truly omnipotent One. Such will be the case for all who forget. Remember the world of Noahs day. Remember Babel.
Remember the famine of Elijahs day. Remember the Captivity. Remember Pentecost. All these events point to a
jealous God Who will always be the ultimate One declared Lord. Our God is One of Almighty power.
Fourthly, Gods glory reflects His authority. Accompanied with the awe-inspiring lightning was the sound of a
trumpet. This trumpet call announced to the people that they were to come before the mountain (v 15), and they
could only but tremble when they heard it. Such was the force of its sound. Such was the authority of His call. The
people understood that this was no optional call, but one of necessity to obey. Is this not the only way God speaks
with power, with weight, with authority? Is this not the only way we should treat His voice?
Finally, we see a glimpse of the dread of Gods glory: And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the
LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount
quaked greatly. Such a view is one that must strike fear into any onlooker, and truly our God is to be feared. The

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fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. One can only be a fool who does not tremble at the thought of Gods
righteousness and wrath. Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I
will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto
you, Fear him. Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Sad thing that the One Who deserves greatest honor
is the One receiving the least honorable recognition. Is this so in your life? Fear God and keep His commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

In closing, the point of these few thoughts was not simply to state facts: a response is to be expected. This was the
response demanded of the people: Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your
faces, that ye sin not. When God faces us with profound truth, we are accountable to respond. Trivial things are to
be taken lightly, but reverence is to be expected when God speaks to us, especially when He speaks concerning
Himself. And when we are faced with His character, He desires that we respond with a renewed passion to pattern
ourselves after it. When faced with the holiness of God we should be deeply concerned for our own need for
personal holiness: how can we claim to serve One we do not properly represent? Be ye holy, for I am holy. When it
comes to His power, this should invoke a deep trust in His ability to deliver and provide. When faced with His
authority, we should be impressed with the profound nature of our standing as servants. And as we read His Word,
knowing His authority, we should feel obligation to obey our Master in the fullest way, we should preach Scripture in
dignity, and we should uphold it faithfully. No other response is appropriate to such authority as that which God
holds. Then considering the dread of His glory, we should understand that service is never complete unless it is
rooted in true Scriptural fear of the Lord, not in that we are paranoid of judgement, but that we understand the weight
and accountability of living for God. But also we should bow in worship as we consider that we have been delivered
from wrath, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Yet what about the unconverted? The fear
of wrath is still very much a reality for him. We as believers holding a true attitude toward God should make it our
priority to intercede for them in prayer and to verbally warn them of impending doom. So then, in light of these facts,
may we go on to serve with a new fervour and yet with a new maturity and reverence about Whom we serve. Ones
attitude toward God is central in his service: let us not waste our lives by a wrong view of God. That would certainly
be a shame.

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