“Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”
Moses passed through the darkness and cloud into the thick darkness where God dwelt, drawn near either by the people's urgent request or by God's own call upon him to receive their petition and bring it before the Lord.
AI summary
The terrible sights and sounds accomplished exactly what God intended: the people felt their own frailty and sin, understood themselves as mere flesh powerless before His holiness, and asked Moses to stand between them and the devouring fire, promising to obey whatever he would tell them from God.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 20:18-19
God gave the law in thunder and lightning to show us His terrible majesty, to give us a foretaste of judgment day, and to humble our hearts before the gospel's comfort. The people had been bold enough to push forward before; now they learned to keep their distance, and begged Moses to speak for them instead.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 20:18-21