“And God spoke all these words:”
Exodus 20:1 (NIV)
I wonder if we forget that the entire nation of Israel heard God’s audible voice.
They gathered at the foot of the mountain, being careful not to approach the mountain itself, and waited for God to speak. The LORD then spoke the 10 commandments to the people Himself, without using Moses as an intermediary. The speaking of audible Words by itself amazes me - that God the Eternal Spirit speaks - how does a Spirit speak? Just think of how we speak and how we hear - God entered that auditory sphere Himself and spoke these Words into their ears. It was only after hearing God speak that the people begged Moses to be the mediator between them and God. The writer of Hebrews 12 describes the fear that even Moses himself felt when he heard God speak, for the voice the Hebrews heard was not the gentle whisper that Elijah heard on this mountain hundreds of years later, that brought Elijah the comfort and the encouragement he needed to go on with life and with his ministry. Once again, I find myself amazed, at the God who speaks in various ways at various times, dependent upon the need of the people He is speaking to. The people needed to fear God, for the fear of God would bring obedience and obedience would bring them life, and so He appeared to them in fire and spoke in such a way to scare them. In these last days He speaks to us through His Son, God made flesh, full of grace and truth, Words of acceptance and love, exactly what we need today for life. May we listen today.
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