Drawing Near the Thick Darkness

"Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking,and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses,"You speak with us, and we will hear, but let not God speak with us, lest we die." And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin." So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was." Exodus 20:18-21

While reading Scripture last night, this particular passage caught my attention. It made me think of all the times I have stood trembling at the foothills of a frightening "storm" in my life, terrified that the "thunderings and lightning flashes" would consume me. Just like the Israelites, I wasn't sure I was willing to endure the scary stuff just to have an intimate experience with the Creator of the Universe. I mean, what if getting closer to God meant losing someone I loved, losing my health, losing my job, or losing my marriage...these were all major "storms" that frightened me. But I am learning as Moses says, not to be afraid of such storms.

For we see in this passage that God does not bring trials into our lives to destroy us, but rather to test us, and teach us to reverently fear Him so that we may not sin. These are crucial elements in the life of any believer. Crucial elements that draw us closer to our Maker.

So I have purposed the last few years to stop resisting the trials in my life as the Israelites did, and model my behavior after Moses, boldly drawing near the thick darkness, fully confident that God will meet me there.