(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 5:23-33)

27 Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”

When Israel saw that God spoke to Moses and that he lived, not perishing in the glory and majesty of the fire of the Lord, they wanted Moses to continue to be the mediator between them and God. They did not want to be consumed by the great fire, that was God’s voice, but wanted Moses to receive, and then to instruct them.

Their commitment was to listen and obey. However, this new generation, preparing to enter into the Promised Land, was evidence that their ancestors did not listen and obey. Moses himself serving as the mediator between Israel and God, the one that was to go near and listen, also in anger did not listen and obey, and thus he could not enter into the Promised Land himself.

In our Christian faith, we no longer need to send a Moses to go near and listen. Through the faith of Jesus Christ, we ourselves can go directly to the Lord, not only being near to Him, but being in Him, and He in us, and listen to His voice. We can go directly into the spiritual Holy of Holies, go near and listen to our Lord anywhere, anytime, and in any situation.

The challenge still remains for us to listen and obey. However, the answer for us is also found in Jesus Christ. Let us not be ignorant in thinking that Jesus Christ is only good for us to go near and listen, but let us be aware that it is also Jesus Christ that allows us to listen and obey.

If Jesus Christ is both for us to go near and listen and to listen and obey, then why do we still have such a difficult time with both? In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes,

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The key to to be able to go near and listen and to listen and obey, is not in us, but is in Jesus Christ. Yes, as long as we continue to live in the “I” and live for “me” we will continue to struggle with staying away in fear and listening and obeying ourselves and the world rather than God.

Yet, Paul reminds us that when we can die to ourselves, “I no longer live,” and to let Christ be alive in us, “but Christ lives in me,” then and only then can we go near and listen and to listen and obey without fear and hestitation.

May Christ live in us today, that we may go near and listen to His voice, and listen and obey to His commands.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy 5