Dangerously Beautiful

“On the morning of the third day there was there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.”
Exodus 19:16, 18-19

The American Mid-West is subject to fierce storms. These regular thunderstorms in the right circumstances can cause severe damage and under the right conditions can turn deadly. However, the run of the mill storm is beautiful in its power, color, light shows and varying sorts of thunder. We had been living the Mid-West for five or so months when the conditions became ripe for a regular thunderstorm to go very wrong. Emergency sirens blared, people sought cover in all sort of places. Pictures in the days that followed the storm showed tornadoes and damage. As I look at the pictures of tornadoes I couldn’t help but think that in the midst of those potentially deadly weather events that tornadoes are dangerously beautiful.

Meditating on the incredible power and beauty of the nature God created I couldn’t help but think how often weather terms are used to describe the power and majesty of God. In this week’s passages the Israelites had made their escape from Egypt and the Lord had led them to the foot of Mount Sinai, where they are all about to have a fearsome encounter with God and where Moses would once again speak to God as you and I would speak to each other.

I really like the picture of power and majesty this week’s passages describe – thunder, lightning, thick clouds blanketing the summit and the Lord descending on the mountain in fire turning the underside of those red and yellow hot with smoke rising and a trumpet announcing His arrival getting louder and louder. It was into this dangerously beautiful environment that Moses went to talk with God. The people left at the foot of the mountain were afraid, so imagine how Moses’ brother Aaron must of felt when Moses came back down to get him to take him to the mountain top.

Later I love what Moses’ said to the people trying to calm them down after what they had witnessed. He said, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear (awestruck respect) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning” (Exodus 20:20).

In the New Testament we see another dangerously beautiful event take place – a horrendously, brutal death meant that mankind could be restored and made new if they believed Jesus and accepted his awesome gift of grace and mercy, forgiveness and love.

Being a follower of Christ is a dangerously beautiful journey because followers are called to live against the cultural tide, against the world’s status quo and to be a beacon of light to a world being overcome by darkness.

When we embrace the power God has for us and stand humbly in His majestic power, we can change the world. Are you ready to live a dangerously beautiful life?

A Prayer
Father, thank you that that Your Word paints such vivid pictures of who you are and what Your powerful love looks like. Help us to live the dangerously beautiful life you have called your people to. Be the power we need to reflect Your amazing light and love to the world. In name of Jesus who showed us what it is to live dangerously beautiful - Amen