Lesson 2: God's Holiness Causes a Reaction, part 2

The first way the Bible describes what God's Holiness is can be seen in the reaction of people. The first people to react to God's Holiness are the Israelites.

Exodus 20:18-19 - "Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.’"

This is the classic response of the Israelites to the actual presence of God. God not only led them out of Egypt, but one day He personally showed up to talk with them. What was the response of the people? They trembled and shook in utter terror at the very voice of God and cried out, "Please! Please! Do not let God speak to us, or we will die!"

According to the Word of God, that one true glimpse of the Holiness of God is something that strikes fear in our bones. In fact, I would say that many Christians have totally forgotten this because we want to call Him “friend” or “brother.”

The second instance of someone reacting to God's holiness is Samson's parents.

Judges 13:20-22 - "And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the LORD went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground. The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. And Manoah said to his wife, ‘We shall surely die, for we have seen God!"


This amazing response to the presence of God is from the parents of Samson, the mighty man of God. Here they were, barren, and one day God not only promises them a son, but He personally shows up to tell them the good news. What was their response? They crumbled to the ground and screamed, "Oh no! Oh no! We have seen God and we are doomed to die!"

According to the Word of God one true glimpse of the Holiness of God is something that makes you fear for your very life.

The third person to react to God's holiness is Daniel.

Daniel 10:7-9 - "And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground."

Daniel, the great prayer warrior of God, responded to God, too. He was praying for three weeks for an answer from God. Then God not only answered his prayer, but He personally sends one of His holy angels to give the answer. Daniel was physically drained, causing him to drop face down in the dirt. That was the response to encountering a holy angel from God. What would have happened if he encountered the actual presence of God?

* What do you think keeps you from seeing God’s holiness?