Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Nature of This Spiritual Discernment – Continued

B. “ ‘We All’ . . . With Unveiled Face”

It seems that Paul thinks of Moses as God’s prophet went up to the mount. He thinks of the words of Jehovah which Moses had to speak to the people: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). “All the people answered together and said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do’ “ (Exodus 19:8). But the Lord knew how little they understood what they said and how hard were the hearts of many of them. He did not allow them to come up to the top of the mountain with Moses:

The LORD said to Moses, “And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live’ ” (Exodus 19:12-13).

Even after Moses had come to the top of the mount he was charged to go down again to warn the people “lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish” (Exodus 19:21).

Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

And the LORD said to him, “Go down . . . but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them” (Exodus 19:23-24).

Then came the terrible thunderings on the mountain top. “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” (Exodus 19:18). Is it any wonder that the people trembled? Is it any wonder that they quaked with fear? Is it any wonder they pleaded with Moses not to let the Lord speak to them for fear they would die? (see Exodus 20:19).

In contrast to all this Paul now takes the people straight to the top of the mountain. Pentecost has come. There was the sound as if a mighty rushing wind was blowing through the house but it brought no fear. Then there appeared on each of them what appeared like divided tongues of fire and it rested upon each one of them but they didn’t tremble. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, these Parthians and Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Mesopotamia. (See Acts 2:1-3).

To Be Continued

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