How close do you want to be to the Lᴏʀᴅ? The Israelites have come to a face-to-face moment with God and must decide just how much, just how close, they desire to be to God Himself. The context is at the foot of Mount Sinai, less than three months out of Egypt, with the Red Sea passage, the Manna and Quail provision and several other experiences already part of the journey. Supernatural has become common—the pillar of Cloud by day, the pillar of Fire by night—God’s manifest presence with them. Now time has come for commitment. Shortly, the Lᴏʀᴅ will give them His precepts and requirements for life with Him but first they must agree to the covenant terms to qualify for the covenant promises.
“All that the Lᴏʀᴅ has spoken we will do.” That is a huge commitment! Yes, they have been witnesses to the I AM ability of God to complete what He says he will do but what about their ability to fulfill their part of the agreement? All we will do. Did they give it enough consideration or were they so enamored with the promises of God’s provision that they lost sight of the cost? Well, God took them at their word. They spent the rest of that day and the next day preparing to meet the Lᴏʀᴅ and on the third day,
‘All the people in the camp trembled’ probably is an understatement of what I would have been feeling. Hey, this is the Lᴏʀᴅ! Maybe they thought of the impotent gods of Egypt but this Lᴏʀᴅ is not weak or timid and has a significant presence. Can you imagine? You are at the foot of the mountain and God is right there above you on the mount.
This would be a good time to show reverence for who He is and remember you have just agreed to do Life His way.