Exodus 19:21-25: a reflection

21The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22Let the priests also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break out on them.” 23Moses said to the LORD, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’” 24The LORD said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.” 25So Moses went down to the people, and told them.

As God descends on Mount Sinai, the warnings are severe: the people must not break through to gaze on God, lest they perish; bounds are set around the mountain; even the priests must consecrate themselves, lest God break out against them. The holiness of God at Sinai was such that the people could not simply approach; a barrier stood between them and the holy God, and to breach it carelessly meant death. God's holiness set a distance that could not be crossed casually.

Notice the barrier that God's holiness set at Sinai. The people could not draw near carelessly; bounds were set, warnings given, lest they perish for breaching the holiness of God. There was a real distance between the holy God and the sinful people, a barrier that could not be casually crossed. God's holiness was not a thing to be approached lightly; it required consecration, distance, reverence, and to presume upon it was deadly. The barrier at Sinai marked the truth that sinful people cannot casually approach the holy God.

That barrier is worth pondering, for it magnifies the access to God we now have through Christ. At Sinai, the people could not draw near; the holiness of God set a barrier they could not cross. But through Christ, that barrier is removed for us; by his blood, we who could not approach the holy God are given access, invited to draw near with confidence. What was barred at Sinai is opened in Christ. Do not take lightly the access to God you have through Christ; at Sinai the people could not approach, but Christ has opened the way, so that you may draw near to the holy God. Marvel at the access Christ has won, that you, who like Israel could not casually approach the holy God, may now draw near through Christ, who removed the barrier that God's holiness set; the distance at Sinai is bridged in Christ, and you may come to the holy God through him, with reverence and yet with confidence.

Lord, as you descend on Mount Sinai, the warnings are severe: the people must not break through to gaze on you, lest they perish; bounds are set around the mountain; even the priests must consecrate themselves, lest you break out against them. Your holiness at Sinai was such that the people could not simply approach; a barrier stood between them and you, and to breach it carelessly meant death. Your holiness set a distance that could not be crossed casually. Show me the barrier that your holiness set at Sinai. The people could not draw near carelessly; bounds were set, warnings given. There was a real distance between you, the holy God, and the sinful people. Your holiness was not a thing to be approached lightly. The barrier marked the truth that sinful people cannot casually approach the holy God. Let that barrier magnify the access to you I now have through Christ. At Sinai, the people could not draw near; but through Christ, that barrier is removed for me; by his blood, I who could not approach you am given access, invited to draw near with confidence. What was barred at Sinai is opened in Christ. Keep me from taking lightly the access to you I have through Christ; at Sinai the people could not approach, but Christ has opened the way. Help me marvel at the access Christ has won, Lord, that I may now draw near to you, the holy God, through him, with reverence and yet with confidence.