Can We Survive The Giving Of The Torah?
An odd question, you might think. But it wasn’t so odd for the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai….
The Midrash
The Midrash relates that the people of Israel died when G-d spoke[1] and thus had to be revived. This goes beyond what the Torah tells us, but it does bring home a very important biblical truth. When we meet the Holy One of Israel, special divine assistance is needed. (See also Isaiah 6:3-6) In the absence of a very special Mediator, we die. (See Deuteronomy 5:22-31.)
A Fundamental Mistake
When confronted with G-d’s holy law, it is a mistake to think we can meet His standard:
“You shall be holy, for I the L-RD your G-d am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45, 19:2, 20:7.)
With the best of intentions we may wish to say with those at Mount Sinai, “We will do and we will obey.” (Exodus 24:7.) The Tanakh, however, shows us human efforts to achieve holiness are doomed to failure.[2] It is especially mistaken to emphasize: WE will do and WE will obey. The Torah tells us how soon such resolve dissipates and becomes apostasy and unbelief (See Exodus 32) [3].
The right response is rather a broken and contrite heart which G-d will not despise. (Psalm 51:17.) Because who can stand when He appears? (Compare Malachi 3:2.) But don’t despair!
G-d Comes Further Down
One of the most amazing truths of Scripture is that the G-d who descended to Mount Sinai wants to come down even further.
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.
‘I dwell in the high and holy place
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:15.)
This is a miracle of miracles. How is this possible?
Atonement Today
What makes this kind of personal relationship with G-d possible is atonement. After descending on Mount Sinai, the Holy One, may He truly be praised, condescended even further. He came to dwell in the tabernacle where an elaborate system of atonement was set up. (Exodus 40:34-35, Leviticus 1-17).
Today we have no tabernacle in the wilderness nor temple in Jerusalem. Atoning sacrifices as G-d commanded are no longer possible. But the good news is that G-d has provided complete atonement for us through the Messiah, the ultimate Mediator. (See also “What is So Special About Isaiah 53?”) Because of Messiah’s sacrifice, the G-d of Sinai is able to dwell in our hearts and truly revive us.
Life through G-d’s Spirit
The Messiah brings to fulfillment what G-d promised through the prophets:
“I will put My Spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.” (Ezekiel 36:27.)
To those who trust in Messiah, G-d will grant total forgiveness and write His Torah on our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Through the Messiah, and only through Him, G-d’s covenant with Israel is truly unbreakable.
Through faith in Him we are counted righteous, and the G-d’s Spirit enables us to follow G-d in obedience. THROUGH HIM we will do and obey His law.
With the right standing before G-d that Messiah gives us, we need not fear G-d’s presence. He gives us life rather than death. And this reality is a good reason to have a truly happy Shavuot.[4]
see also: The G-d Given Way Of Torah Fulfillment
[1] וְאֶת קֹלוֹ שָׁמַעְנוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ, וְלֹא הָיָה בָהֶם כֹּחַ לַעֲמֹד, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ לְסִינַי וְנִגְלָה לָהֶם, פָּרְחָה נִשְׁמָתָם עַל שֶׁדִּבֵּר עִמָּהֶם
"And they heard his voice from the middle of the fire, and there was in them no strengthto stand. Because when they came to Sinai and He was revealed to them, their soul fled, because He talked with them.”(Midrash Rabba Shemot 29:4)
And:
כְּשֶׁנִּגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִתֵּן תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁמְעוּ קוֹלוֹת וָמֵתוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ה, ו): נַפְשִׁי יָצְאָה בְדַבְּרוֹ
”When the Holy one, blessed be He revealed himself to give the Torah to Israel, they heard voices and died. as it is said “My soul departed when he spoke” (Song of Songs 5:6). (Midrash Rabba Shemot 29:9)
The Midrash is mistaken when it says the Torah interceded for Israel upon which G-d brought Israel back to live. (See Midrash Rabba Shemot 29:4). The true Mediator is not the Torah but the Messiah, prefigured first by Moses. The Messiah truly saves and revives Israel.
[2] See for example Psalm 14:2-3; Isaiah 53:6 and 64:6.
[3] The Torah does NOT blame the “mixed multitude” for this sin. Unfortunately, the sin of the golden calf is just the beginning of a sad history of sin and apostasy throughout the entire TeNaKh.
[4] Not for nothing was it on the day of Shavuot (a.k.a. Pentecost) after Messiah’s death and ressurection, that G-d poured out His Spirit. (See Acts 2)