We’ve had the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, manna in the morning, and water from a rock, the first two, especially, being pretty spectacular. Now we go into Exodus 19 and 20, spectacular manifestations at Mt Sinai, beginning with a reminder of the exodus:

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself…And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” …On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. (Exodus 19.4, 9, 16 – 20, ESV)

Cloud, thunders, lightnings, a very loud trumpet blast, smoke, fire, “and the whole mountain trembled greatly,” as did the people! And after the law was given in chapter 20, more of the same:

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20.18 – 21, ESV)

The purpose of the spectacular was clear: that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever. To give Moses credibility and to emphasize the real presence of a real God whom they should fear and obey.

Today, we have to experience our “spectacular” by faith:

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to…

• Mount Zion and to
• the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to
• innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to
• the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to
• God, the judge of all, and to
• the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to
• Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to
• the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking (Hebrews 12.18 – 25, ESV, emphasis mine, bulleted for clarity)