Scripture to Read: Exodus 19:18–20
God continues to give us some great descriptions of what it was like when He descended on Mount Sinai. We read in Exodus 19:18, “Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.” God did not just descend, but He descended in fire, and the smoke rose up from Mount Sinai like the smoke of a furnace. Again, this is hard for us to imagine what it must have looked like, but it gives us enough description to know why the Israelites trembled at this sight. But God also tells us that the whole mountain shook violently. We don’t know if the entire ground where the Israelites stood shook, but either way, this would have been frightening. God always wants us to remember how powerful He is and that even what the Israelites saw, heard, and felt was still so small compared to all that God is. Remember in yesterday’s devotion that we had already read in Exodus 19:16 about the “loud trumpet sound.” But then God tells us in Exodus 19:19 that “when the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.” God’s Word does not tell us whether the trumpet sound was from God or someone that Moses had assigned to let the Israelites know it was time to meet at the base of Mount Sinai. Either way, it was clear that God was present.
Challenge & Application
· We must have an incredible reverence for God, so how do you show your reverence for God and humble yourself before Him?
· Since we have total access to God’s throne room of grace through Christ, how are you taking advantage of this privilege?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!