Exodus 20:19 19 – “THEN, they said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself, and we will listen; BUT let not God speak to us, lest we die.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, a couple of specific things captured my thoughts.   One was found in Exodus 20:19, and the other launched from Exodus 23:20.

After God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, there was a massive demonstration of God that they saw and heard.  (verse 18).   Exodus 20:19 – “THEN, they said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself, and we will listen; BUT let not God speak to us, lest we die.”

The reality deposited in my consciousness was that they, like today, wanted God’s Word but not His presence.  We want to know what God is saying, but we want someone else to press into the presence and tell us what God is saying.

Two factors are involved.

• It is dangerous to enter God’s presence because He is Holy.   
• It is easy to hear from someone else, for that requires no effort, commitment, or personal sacrifice.

It also leaves room to reject the Word, unlike if it is a direct Word from God.  That’s why people seek out those who hear from God.  It’s like shopping; you pick and choose what is displayed, and you don’t have to be involved in the production of the product.

However, we need to hear God personally.  That requires a relationship, a purging, and dying to the flesh.  In order for us to reach our place of promise (we call it destiny), we need to HEAR God, and we need His guidance, provision, and protection.

That brings me to Exodus 23:20-22.   Yes, this is a specific promise to Israel in the wilderness.  However, since God is not a respecter of persons, we have a legitimate reason to claim it for our lives.   Psalm 91 validates my assertion.  Here we read, “BEHOLD, I AM going to send My Angel before you to keep you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.”

They were to watch and listen for the divine direction that required Hearing God for themselves.   If they walked in obedience to the angelic direction (requiring Hearing Him personally), God’s promise was, “I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

Therefore, unless we commit to hearing God personally, we miss out on the promised provision, protection, and guidance.  We almost certainly guarantee our failure to attain our destiny in God.  We struggle with our own ability rather than enjoying His.

What will we do?   Will we seek God’s Word through another human or seek His presence and, in His presence, receive His Word, Protection, Peace, Power, and Provision?  The choice is ours!

Please help us cultivate the appetite to HEAR YOU personally rather than receive second-hand information.