Why You Shouldn't Fear God | Exodus 19

Summary

Andrew Wommack teaches that Exodus 19 describes Israel’s arrival at Mount Sinai and God’s dramatic appearance there. He presents the chapter as showing both God’s desire for a relationship with his people and the fear they felt when approaching his holiness.

Main Ideas

• Context and chronology: Israel reached Sinai about three months after leaving Egypt. Wommack says the events described in Exodus 19 through Numbers 10 took place within roughly that period, including Moses’ two extended stays on the mountain.
• Sinai’s location: Wommack argues that Mount Sinai was in Arabia rather than on the traditionally identified Sinai Peninsula, citing Galatians 4:25. He also refers to explorer Bob Cornuke’s claims about the Red Sea crossing and a possible Mount Sinai site.
• God’s invitation to Israel: God tells Moses that he rescued Israel and offers the people a special covenant relationship: they are to be his treasured people, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
• The people’s fear: When God appears amid cloud, fire, thunder, lightning, smoke, an earthquake, and a loud trumpet, the people tremble. Wommack interprets their fear as a response to recognizing their own unworthiness before God’s holiness, rather than as evidence that God wanted to harm them.
• Boundaries around the mountain: Wommack explains the prohibition on approaching the mountain as protection. In his interpretation, sinful, mortal people could not endure the full glory of God; the boundaries did not indicate a lack of love.
• Israel’s promise and human inability: The people promise to obey everything God commands, but Wommack says they could not live up to that promise. He connects this to the Christian teaching that people are not made right with God by their own performance, but through Jesus’ life and sacrifice.
• Faith before visible proof: Moses is told to prepare the people for God’s appearance before it happens. Wommack uses this to illustrate faith: trusting and speaking what God has said before visible evidence appears.
• Old and New Covenants: Wommack contrasts Israel’s experience with the New Covenant. He says that born-again believers have a changed inner nature and access to God through the spirit, unlike Israel at Sinai. He adds that this change may not always be evident in a person’s behavior.
• A warning about spiritual forgetfulness: Despite witnessing miracles and God’s presence, Israel soon turns to worshipping a golden calf. Wommack uses this to emphasize that dramatic experiences alone do not transform the heart.

Preparation and Boundaries in the Chapter

• Moses is instructed to consecrate the people and have them wash their clothes.
• The people are told to prepare for the third day, when God will descend on the mountain.
• They are warned not to approach or touch the mountain, and boundaries are set around it.
• They are told to refrain from sexual relations during the preparation period, which Wommack explains as a way to focus on God.
• Moses is later instructed to go down and reinforce the warning, even though boundaries have already been established.

Speakers and Sources

• Andrew Wommack — Presenter and primary speaker.
• Biblical passages discussed or cited: Exodus 14–20; Exodus 32–34; Numbers 10; Galatians 4:25; Romans 3; John 4:24; Hebrews 12:21.
• Bob Cornuke — Referenced for his expedition and video In Search of the Real Mount Sinai. Wommack presents Cornuke’s findings as support for his proposed location of Sinai.