Three profound verses follow the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. They can easily be overlooked because they fall under the immense shadow of God’s Law. Yet they deserve our careful attention because they reveal two important truths we can use when reaching the lost.
Immediately after the Commandments are given, Scripture tells us what happened:
“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’ And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’”
—Exodus 20:18–20
Here are the two important truths:
The Law produces fear.
When God gave His Law, Israel was terrified. The voice that had brought creation into existence, accompanied by thunder, lightning, smoke, and the sound of a trumpet, was more than they could bear. The experience was so terrifying that they believed they were going to die. They drew back, hoping to find what they considered a safe place.
Even Moses was terrified:
“And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.”
—Hebrews 12:21
When we expound the Ten Commandments to sinners, it is natural for them to become afraid—as they begin to realize that all is not well between them and God.
“Let the Law instill fear, and then lead them to the Savior, where they can find mercy, peace, and everlasting life.”
Many hope that keeping the Commandments will earn them entrance into Heaven. You are destroying that false hope. Instead of giving life, the Law pronounces a sentence of death.
This was the experience of the apostle Paul. He had trusted in the moral Law, but listen to what happened when he grasped its true meaning:
“I was once alive without [knowledge of] the Law; but when the commandment came [and I understood its meaning], sin became alive and I died [since the Law sentenced me to death]. And the very commandment which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring death for me.”
—Romans 7:9–10 (Amplified Bible)
It is therefore normal for sinners to feel fear and seek a safer place—to want to get away from you. Don’t let that concern you. This is good, not bad. You want Felix to tremble.
When a criminal is caught in the act of breaking the law, it is natural for him to want to flee. But your confidence is that God is working with you and can open the understanding of the person to whom you are speaking.
The gospel brings consolation.
Then, in verse 20, we see the glorious consolation of the gospel:
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’”
In a sense, we are holding the sinner by the hand as we lead him through the dark, fearful storm of the Law, knowing we are heading toward the peace and light of the gospel.
The Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The Law serves as a schoolmaster to bring sinners to Christ (see Galatians 3:24).
We therefore tell sinners that although their sin is deadly serious and they are under God’s wrath, they can flee to Jesus Christ and find peace and consolation in Him. Jesus can save them from the coming wrath.
If, with the Holy Spirit’s help, you bring sinners through the door of the Law and into the glorious light of the gospel, they will understand why they must repent and trust in Christ.
The Bible says:
“…by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”
—Proverbs 16:6
Never be afraid to awaken fear in the hearts of those you speak to. This is a good and healthy fear—one that reveals the seriousness of sin and the terrible danger sinners face if they stand before God on Judgment Day still clothed in their sins.
Let the Law instill fear, and then lead them to the Savior, where they can find mercy, peace, and everlasting life.
