Fighting Against God! ∙∙
We must obey God rather than any human authority. – Acts 5:29
Acts 5:34-39
34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while.
35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men!”
38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they plan and do these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown.”
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
The Awe-Inspiring Presence of God
Have you ever pondered the awe-inspiring experience of standing in the magnificent presence of the almighty God? The Scriptures vividly depict divine encounters filled with celestial light and profound majesty. The atmosphere crackles with an unearthly energy, and the imagery portrayed is not merely extraordinary; it is transcendent.
To grasp the magnitude of this experience, imagine a combination of some of the most awe-inspiring moments in human history: the raw power of a volcanic eruption, the ground-shaking force of a powerful earthquake, the vastness and beauty of the Grand Canyon at sunrise illuminated by the first rays of sunlight, the Apollo 11 Moon landing (1969) an unparalleled moment of achievement and inspiration, as the world watched in awe as humans set foot on the moon for the first time, and the electrifying energy of a legendary Queen concert. For instance, on June 15, 2009, more than 350,000 fans gathered in Kharkiv, Ukraine, for an open-air Queen concert, a spectacle of lights, sound, and energy. Now, multiply all these experiences exponentially, and you may begin to understand what it’s like to witness the presence of God.
Experiencing God’s presence was like witnessing the apex amalgamation of all those extraordinary events and much more. It was a breathtaking display of the Father’s authority and power, marked by flashing lights, deafening thunder, swirling smoke, fire, earthquakes, and the commanding voice of the Almighty.
The Revelation at Mount Sinai
The Father gave a glimpse of His majesty through a public display at Mount Sinai, as described in Exodus 19 – 20. This was no ordinary event. It was a moment of divine revelation that left the children of Israel utterly terrified.
As the Ten Commandments were delivered to Moses, the very earth seemed to respond. The Scriptures depict the scene: Exodus 20:18: “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance.”
The sights and sounds were overwhelming. Smoke billowed from the mountain, and fire blazed from peak to peak. The air was filled with the sound of thunderclaps and the piercing blasts of a trumpet. The ground beneath the people’s feet shook violently. It was a sensory overload of divine power and majesty.
The LORD Descends in Fire
The source of this awe-inspiring display is described in Exodus 19:18: “The LORD descended on Mount Sinai in fire.” The children of Israel experienced visible and audible signs of the invisible God. The sheer magnitude of the event left them frozen with fear, trembling in their sandals, and overwhelmed by the presence of the Almighty.
Yet, as awe-inspiring as the cosmic display was, it served only as the backdrop for something even greater: the revelation of God’s law.
The Law of God: The Ultimate Standard
The law of Moses, revealed at Mount Sinai, served as the Father’s ultimate standard for all aspects of life. It made a comprehensive and absolute claim on the nation of Israel’s worship, time, relationships, possessions, bodies, speech, and desires. As Ryken and Hughes describe, the law was a total and all-encompassing covenant.
The people of Israel willingly entered into this covenant with God, declaring, as stated in Exodus 19:8: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” One might wonder if they fully understood the weight of their commitment. Did they realize the impossibility of perfectly keeping the law without error at all times?
Even 3500 years later, the demands of the law remain daunting. The invisible God, who had no name, was now revealed as the ultimate Lord, Master, and Judge, not only of Israel but of the entire human race.
The Dual Nature of God’s Presence
The revelation at Mount Sinai reveals two deep aspects of God’s nature. On one side, He is a loving Father who welcomes His children into His caring embrace. On the other side, He is a holy and just Judge whose strength and authority command awe and respect.
REFLECT & PRAY
As Hebrews 10:31 reminds us, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The same God who revealed Himself to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai continues to call His people into a relationship of reverence, obedience, and love.
Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to the nation of Israel and for showing us Your majesty and holiness. Thank You for inviting us, as Your children, to experience Your loving presence and warm embrace. May we always approach You with reverence and gratitude, recognizing both Your power and Your grace.
INSIGHT
The Terrifying Revelation at Mount Sinai
When the Lord God Almighty gave Moses the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, He spoke audibly to the people of Israel. This direct encounter with the voice of God was so overwhelming and terrifying that the people begged for it never to happen again. The sheer power of God’s presence made them tremble with fear, unable to handle the intensity of His voice and the sights and sounds that accompanied it.
Exodus 20:18-19 describes the scene: “When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen. But do not let God speak directly to us, or we will die!’”
The people’s reaction was one of pure terror. They recognized God’s holiness and power, and in doing so, realized their own unworthiness to be in His presence. Their plea for an intermediary marked a key moment in the relationship between God and His people.
The Birth of the Prophets
In response to the people’s request, the Father promised to raise up representatives who would speak on His behalf. This marked the beginning of the prophetic age in Israel. From this time forward, the God of Israel would call and empower specific individuals to be His spokesmen.
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 recounts Moses’ words to the Israelites: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you yourselves requested of the LORD your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’”
“Then the LORD said to me, ‘What they have said is right. I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.’”
This promise established a pattern of divine communication through prophets, who delivered God’s words to His people. The apostles of the New Testament later continued the prophetic role.
The Apostles: God’s Spokesmen in the New Testament
During the period when the New Testament was written, God continued to speak through His chosen representatives, the apostles. These individuals were not self-appointed or selected by human authority but were directly called and commissioned by God.
Galatians 1:1 highlights this divine appointment: “This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.”
The apostles, like the prophets before them, were entrusted with the responsibility of delivering God’s words to His people. Their teachings and writings carry the full authority of the Lord, as the Holy Spirit inspired them to communicate His message.
The Tragic Pattern of Refusal
Although the Father sends prophets and apostles to speak on His behalf, history reveals a disheartening pattern: people often refuse to listen. This rejection of God’s messengers is not new, but has been a longstanding issue throughout biblical history and continues to this day.
Jeremiah 25:4 laments this reality: “Again and again, the LORD has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.”
When people choose to ignore or reject the words of the prophets and apostles, they are not just dismissing human opinions or ideas. They are turning away from the very words, thoughts, and feelings of the living God.
The Authority of God’s Word
The authority of the prophets and apostles is not derived from their own wisdom or insight but from their divine calling. To reject their words is to reject the Lord Himself.
As Ray Stedman observes, “I am sometimes amazed at the brazen temerity of people today who will read a section from one of his letters and say, ‘I don’t agree with Paul.’ Well, that makes me tremble. Paul is speaking as an apostle. An apostle is an authorized spokesman. What he says is what he has heard. So, if you do not agree with Paul, you don’t agree with the Lord either.”
This sobering truth reminds us of the importance and authority of Scripture. The words of the prophets and apostles are not optional suggestions, but divine commands that require our attention and obedience.
The Dramatic Encounter at Mount Sinai
The extraordinary events at Mount Sinai emphasize the Father’s deep desire to connect with His people. Amid blazing fire, thunder, and thick clouds, He is revealed in all His majesty and holiness. This powerful display shows the enormity of being in the presence of the living God. It is so overwhelming that it highlights the need for intermediaries who faithfully communicate His words in a way people can understand.
God’s representatives act as vital links between the divine and the human. However, the responsibility lies with us to listen and respond. To reject the words of the prophets and apostles is to reject the very voice of God. Their message is not their own but divinely inspired, carrying the full authority of the Lord God Almighty.
The Father calls His children to a relationship rooted in love, joyful obedience, and sincere worship. The King of the Universe still invites each new generation to approach, trust in His guidance, and live in the light of His holiness and faithfulness.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 