So Terrible was the Sight Hebrews 12:21

According to the writer of Hebrews, the presence of God upon Mount Sinai was so intimidating and awe inspiring for the people of Israel that they “begged” Moses “that the word should not be spoken to them any more”. In chapter twelve and verse twenty-one of Hebrews, the writer shared how “so terrible was the sight” of the “mount” of God where we read:

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

The verse begins, “And so terrible was the sight,...”. The writer began with the word, “And so terrible” which means “and thus in this manner the formidable and inspiring fear” “was the sight” or “was the view, appearance, and show”. The “appearance and show” presented unto Moses as he was on the “mountain” struck him with “formidable and inspiring fear”.

The verse continues, “...that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)”. The writer added the words, “that Moses” whose name means “drawing out” and was “the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion” “said” which means “spoke, uttered, answered and called”, “I exceedingly fear” or “I am stricken with terror and fright, sore afraid and frightened out of one's whits” “and quake” which means “and tremble”. Moses was so “afraid” of what He saw on the mountain that he literally “shook” with “terror and fright” from the experience.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we can imagine how Moses “shook with fear” as he heard and saw the sights from God upon Mount Sinai. The presence of God should never be minimized because His authority and power are greater than any other, and those who are exposed to His “sight” shall certainly have “exceeding” “fear and quaking” . Jesus came to gain access to this Awesome God through His death on the cross. Only the blood of Jesus could assuage the power and strength of Almighty God, and those who trust in and believe in Him shall have no reason to “fear and quake” at His “terrible” or “awesome” sight.

Next time the writer shares how the people “are come unto mount Sion”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.