Testing and Fear

Jesus' Fulfillment of Scripture
Jesus' Use of Scripture
Jesus Teaching on the Law

Exodus 20:12-21

The Message

¹² Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

¹³ No murder.

¹⁴ No adultery.
¹⁵ No stealing.
¹⁶ No lies about your neighbor.

¹⁷ No lusting after your neighbor’s house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor’s.

^18-19 All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid—they pulled back and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, “You speak to us and we’ll listen, but don’t have God speak to us or we’ll die.”

²⁰ Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won’t sin.”
²¹ The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

For Reflection

To fear God is to be in reverent awe of God.  We are all tempted at one time or another to defy at least one of the laws of Moses.  God knows the human condition. God knows that sometimes we make untoward decisions.  God knows that sometimes we are challenged to choose between undesirable consequences.  God knows and God forgives.

Pray

Be in awe of the God of grace.  Pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise.  Pray that when tested you will choose from a God-centered base.  Pray that you will have the courage to choose, even when the apparent choices are not desire able.  Pray for forgiveness when you are unable to meet the demands of the test.