Jesus In Deuteronomy

“But when you heard the voice from the heart of the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came to me. They said, ‘Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! But now, why should we risk death again? If the LORD our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive? Go yourself and listen to what the LORD our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.’ “The LORD heard the request you made to me. And he said, ‘I have heard what the people said to you, and they are right. Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. [Deuteronomy 5.23-29]

This passage from Deuteronomy is perplexing.

First, the people experienced God's glory and DID NOT DIE, and yet they concluded that subsequent encounters of God's glory would kill them. Why?

Why indeed! It can only be concluded that the people knew sin was in their future and that sin, when encountering God's glory would kill them.

But then, God agreed that the people were right. Hmm. Shouldn't he have scolded them for "reserving" sin for their future?

This is where it gets good though... God recognized that the people, in their fallen nature, knew they would sin, and so God praised their decision even stating He wished they would always have this consciousness of sin.

So, even though they saw God once and didn't die, they humbly acknowledged their fallen Adamic nature and need for a mediator. Hello Jesus!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is this simple: Repent or sin (humility) and believe in the Mediator, Jesus.

Father, I feel pretty scattered today in my thoughts, however I still see Jesus in Deuteronomy!!