Many parts of the Bible can trip us up, especially in the Old Testament, where we encounter a way of life that is so, so far removed from ours.
Genesis has a lot of family drama that hits closer to home. Exodus starts taking us into more intense territory: stories and events that can leave us scratching our heads and wondering, What in the world?
When I read Exodus 19:10–13, my gut reaction was, “Okay, this seems excessive!” Why would stepping across a boundary, even accidentally, deserve death?
Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.”
Exodus 19:10–13 (New Living Translation)
The second you, or anyone, even your dog, touches that boundary, it’s over. No one will come get you. No one will extend a hand to bring you back. Nope. You’re done.
So done that you are to be shot with an arrow from afar so that you don’t accidentally take someone else with you.
You are cooked!
I’ll be camping out here for the next few Popcorn Devotions to unpack this a bit.
What is going on here? s God being unfriendly, or are we simply catching a glimpse of the fact that he is dangerously holy, and we are not?
Here are a few thoughts to ponder between now and the next post:
The boundary was a reminder that God could not be approached casually or on our own terms.
If you read the chapter, you’ll notice that God repeatedly warns Moses because he wants to protect the people, not because he is looking for ways to punish them.
We read this today, and it all seems out of this world. We forget the seriousness of sin and what it took to bring us to a place where approaching God is something we can so easily take for granted.
How did humanity, created for God’s presence, reach the point where coming too close could kill us?
Je suis curieuse de la suite.