Exodus 20:21
The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While the people recoiled from God's overwhelming presence, Moses’ desire to draw closer to God, even into the mysterious darkness, highlights a profound intimacy with the divine. This wasn't just proximity; it was an invitation for Moses to step into the very space where God dwelt, a privilege born of relationship and trust.
After the awesome and terrifying display of God's presence on Mount Sinai, which confirmed His commandments with thunder, lightning, and trumpet blasts, the Israelites retreated in fear. Moses, however, was called forward to draw near to the thick darkness where God dwelled, acting as the mediator between the people and the divine.
The thundering Mount Sinai showed God's awesome power. Why did the people retreat, and what does that reveal about us?
The encounter at Mount Sinai was terrifying. The people saw and heard the thunderings, lightnings, trumpet blasts, and the smoking mountain. This overwhelming display of divine power caused them to draw back, even requesting that Moses speak to God on their behalf so they wouldn't die (Exodus 20:18-19). Their reaction isn't unique; it reflects a deep-seated human tendency to fear God's holiness and judgment. This chasm exists because of sin, creating a natural distance between a holy God and fallen humanity.
While the crowds fled, one man moved closer. What empowered Moses to approach the divine darkness?
Moses' movement towards God is striking. While the people retreated in fear, Moses 'drew near to the thick darkness where God was.' This wasn't necessarily a spontaneous act of bravery. The ancient texts suggest he was 'made to draw near,' either by God's direct call and encouragement or even the help of angels. Regardless of the exact mechanism, Moses' willingness to approach the overwhelming presence of God stemmed from his unique relationship with Him and a deep trust. He was not driven by recklessness, but by a divine appointment and faith that God would protect him within that very darkness.
God spoke from heaven, but not directly to everyone. Why the need for a mediator like Moses?
The narrative clearly shows God speaking 'from heaven,' yet only to Moses in the thick darkness (Exodus 20:22). The people, overwhelmed by the initial manifestation, explicitly asked Moses to be their intermediary. This establishes Moses as a mediator, bridging the gap between God's holiness and the people's fear. He received God's words and was responsible for relaying them. This foreshadows a greater Mediator, Jesus Christ, who fully bridges the chasm between humanity and God, not through mediated pronouncements, but through His own sacrifice and presence, allowing believers to draw near with confidence.
Understand the original words
rachaq · Hebrew Verb
A reverent distance maintained by the people due to the overwhelming holiness and majesty of God, highlighting the chasm between a holy Creator and sinful humanity.
araphel · Hebrew Noun
The presence of God manifested in a way that obscures human vision, emphasizing His incomprehensibility, mystery, and the danger of approaching Him apart from His appointed mediator.
This passage vividly contrasts the terrifying, fiery experience at Mount Sinai, where even Moses drew near to the thick darkness, with the more accessible, relational coming of believers to Mount Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem.
John 1:14The 'thick darkness' where God was at Sinai points to God's veiled presence, while this verse reveals Jesus as the 'Word made flesh' who 'dwelt among us,' showing God's presence made tangible and accessible.
1 Kings 8:10-12Just as Moses approached God in the thick darkness of the tabernacle, Solomon describes the cloud filling the temple, symbolizing God's majestic and awesome presence, indicating a continuity of God's dwelling among His people.
Isaiah 45:3This verse highlights God revealing Himself to Cyrus in a way that contrasts with the fear the people felt at Sinai, showing God's power to grant knowledge and access even to those outside the covenant community.
2 Corinthians 3:7-9Paul draws a parallel between Moses' veiled face from the glory of God at Sinai and the believers' experience, suggesting that while God's presence was awesome and terrifying then, it has been transformed through Christ.
gillExodus 20:21: "And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."
And the people stood afar off,.... Still kept their distance in their camp and tents; or the heads and elders of the people having had this conversation with Moses, returned to their tents as they were bid, Deuteronomy 5:30 and to the people in the camp, and there they continued while Moses went up to God with their request: and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was; the thick…
calvinExodus 20:18-21: "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off."
- And all the people saw the thunderings. Because in the parallel passage [218] Moses more largely pursues what he here only touches upon briefly, I shall also defer my full exposition of it. If he had been the only spectator of God's glory, the credit of his testimony would be lighter; after having…
While the people recoiled from God's overwhelming presence, Moses’ desire to draw closer to God, even into the mysterious darkness, highlights a profound intimacy with the divine. This wasn't just proximity; it was an invitation for Moses to step into the very space where God dwelt, a privilege born of relationship and trust.
After the awesome and terrifying display of God's presence on Mount Sinai, which confirmed His commandments with thunder, lightning, and trumpet blasts, the Israelites retreated in fear. Moses, however, was called forward to draw near to the thick darkness where God dwelled, acting as the mediator between the people and the divine.
After the awesome and terrifying display of God's presence on Mount Sinai, which confirmed His commandments with thunder, lightning, and trumpet blasts, the Israelites retreated in fear. Moses, however, was called forward to draw near to the thick darkness where God dwelled, acting as the mediator between the people and the divine.
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"The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was." — While the people recoiled from God's overwhelming presence, Moses’ desire to draw closer to God, even into the mysterious darkness, highlights a profound intimacy with the divine. This wasn't just pr…
