The Dread of Mount Sinai

June 1st, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 12:18-21 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”

Beginning in Hebrews 12:18 the author provides another pertinent example of Christ’s superiority in the new covenant (NC), reminding his Jewish audience of the events that emerged in Exodus chapters 19-20, circa 1445 BC. At that time, on Mount Sinai, God met with Moses and gave him the written Law (old covenant) that was to govern Israel in Canaan.

The setting for Exodus 19-20 concerns the awesome power of God as He gave Moses the stone tablets (the Decalogue) that contained both the blessing for obedience and the curse for rebellion. Mount Sinai that day was like a blazing fire, replete with “darkness and gloom and whirlwind” (Heb. 12:18), “whirlwind” being a term similar to a tornado. This was God manifesting Himself to Israel that day for their own faith (Ex. 19:9), in glory and power, giving them an overwhelming glimpse of His authority and the reverence due Him. In the midst of this validation of God’s power, no one was to go near or touch the mountain of God, for to do so meant death, for “if even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned” (v. 20; cf. Ex. 19:12).

The people of Israel encountered God in a terrifying way that day. As the heavenly trumpet sounded, its blast became increasingly louder, summoning Israel to mountain’s base. It was there that their frightening experience intensified to the point where they begged Moses to ask God to turn His attention away from them, to speak to Moses only, for they were overwhelmed by God. For his part, Moses attempted to comfort Israel, saying, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you that the fear of Him may be before you that you may not sin” (Ex. 20:20). In other words, God’s display of power and holiness that day was to be forever branded on Israel’s memory.

Moses, commenting on that dreadful occasion in Deuteronomy 9:19, himself said, “I am full of fear and trembling” (Heb. 12:21). Yet Moses was not fearful for himself only; he was fearful for Israel. After all, he was Israel’s mediator, and he had the awesome task to bring Israel’s fearful complaint and sinful lives before the Almighty God. Mount Sinai was a fearful place!

That was then—back in 1446 BC; this is now—at least now in the context of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The author was contrasting those ancient events with what his audience was experiencing in the here and now. These Jews knew their history, a reflection of the old covenant in the Mosaic Law. Yet they had apparently forgotten that history (cf. 12:5). Their new covenant Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, had brought them not to Mount Sinai with fear and trembling over their sinful hearts but to Mount Zion—the spiritual dwelling of God where they could come boldly before God’s very throne and stay there to find mercy and grace to help them in their time of need (4:16). Their new covenant situation was nothing like the old covenant!

Food For Thought
A works-oriented religion (Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Islam, et al.) attempts to gain God’s favor through merit. But God cannot be appeased through our works, for our sin killed His Son! Salvation has to come through God’s grace alone—Him deciding to pave a way for our forgiveness. Praise God we don’t live under the old dispensation of Sinai, for no one can please God through the Law, represented by Mount Sinai. By God’s grace we are able to come to Jesus Christ through faith alone, approaching God through Mount Zion. It is Christ’s work through which we approach God, and boldly! There is no other way, for salvation is only by God’s grace.