The Mediator

DEVOTION

EXODUS

THE MEDIATOR

Ex 20:18-21

18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." 20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

NIV

It is a little uncertain as to the exact timeline of this particular narrative. It is possible this thunder and lighting and the sound of the trumpet happened as God struck out each command upon the stones. As we have already seen, some of this was to show the people the power and might of God along with the fact that he speaks to Moses, showing them Moses is his representative to the people. Here the people ask Moses for just that, to speak to them instead of God speaking to them directly. Their fear of God was firmly established by all the thunder and lighting and the trembling of the mountain upon which God had come down to. Moses tells them they should not be afraid of God, but that he came to test them so the fear of God would keep them from sinning. Is that even possible? No matter how much they feared God, they still sinned. The proof of this comes to us later when Moses spends those forty days and nights with the Lord getting all the directions for the tabernacle, the ark, and all the garments of Aaron and how all that should happen. They make a golden calf to worship. So much for the fear of God keeping them from sinning. So much for the fear of God that keeps us from sinning. Are we to fear God, to be afraid of him? We have been told that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. This word fear has been also intended to mean reverence or respect rather than being afraid, to have terror. Although we might have become guilty of becoming too comfortable with God, too casual in our relationship with him, we may not have to have terror of him or being in terror of him, but we certainly need to hold him in the highest esteem, the highest reverence possible. He is holy, holy, holy and we are not. However, we can approach God.

Eph 3:9-13

 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

NIV

The people selected Moses, which of course, God already selected, to be their mediator between them and God. This shows us the need for Jesus to be our mediator between us and God. We cannot approach the throne of God alone, on our merit, for surely we would die. Just as the people would be struck dead if they even touched the foot of the mountain while God was on it. But now, through our faith in Jesus we many approach God with freedom and confidence, we will not be struck down dead. This whole narrative shows us our need for Jesus. No good deed is enough. No right living our whole life is enough. There is simply nothing we can do that qualifies us to approach God without being struck down dead. But we have Jesus, our high priest.

Heb 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

NIV

Unlike the Israelites, we live in the age of grace, through Christ Jesus. We can approach God. But if we have any wisdom at all, it will be with reverent fear, yet also with confidence because of his grace. Without Jesus to be our mediator we are in deep trouble for no one can fulfill all the law that God set out before the people. This narrative shows, us through Moses being their mediator, we need Jesus to be ours. We no longer need to remain at a distance.