“According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.”
This verse is part of a larger passage where Moses is addressing the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In this specific verse, Moses is reminding the people of their request at Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai) when they witnessed the giving of the Ten Commandments and the presence of God.
Context: Before delving into verse 16, it is helpful to understand the context of the passage. Deuteronomy is essentially Moses’ final sermons to the Israelites, recounting their history and renewing the covenant between God and the people. In this particular section, Moses is reminding them of their encounter with God at Mount Horeb.
The Israelites’ Request: At Mount Horeb, the Israelites had a profound and overwhelming experience of God’s presence. They saw a great fire and heard the voice of the Lord speaking the Ten Commandments. The experience was so intense that it filled them with fear and trembling. In their fear, they requested not to hear the voice of the Lord or see the great fire again because they were afraid it would lead to their death.
God’s Response: The Israelites’ fear and desire to avoid direct communication with God was understandable given the intensity of their encounter. However, it is important to note that God did not rebuke them for their request. In fact, Moses confirms that God agreed with their request and chose him as a mediator to relay His messages to the people.
The Role of Mediation: Verse 16 emphasizes the need for a mediator between God and the people. Moses served as that mediator, receiving God’s instructions and conveying them to the Israelites. This role of mediation would continue throughout Israel’s history, with prophets, priests, and later Jesus Christ acting as intermediaries between God and humanity.
In summary, Deuteronomy 18:16 reminds us of the Israelites’ request at Mount Horeb to not hear the voice of the Lord or see the great fire again out of fear. God understood their fear and appointed Moses as a mediator to communicate His messages to the people. This verse highlights the importance of mediation between God and humanity and sets the stage for the future role of prophets and ultimately Jesus Christ as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.
