Devotionals by Raul Ries

WEDNESDAY May 20, 2026

The God of Judgment

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”... terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
Hebrews 12:18-21

Remember, Paul’s audience were Jewish, so he took them back to their Old Testament history (Exodus 19:12-25). God’s presence was on Mount Sinai, and whoever touched the mountain would be put to death––man or beast. He reminded them of the judgment of God. The people were terrified at seeing God’s power and hearing His voice––thunderings, flashes of lightening, and a smoky mountain (Exodus 20:18-21).

Moses was with God on Mount Sinai, and he received the Ten Commandments, which represented the old covenant. While he was gone for 40 days and 40 nights, the people became restless and persuaded Aaron, Moses’ brother, to build a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32:1-6).

When Moses came back down the mountain, they were having sex and partying. He was so angry that he took the Ten Commandments and threw them down and broke them (Exodus 32:19). Moses stood in the entrance of the camp and called God’s people to account. Whoever was on the Lord's side should come over to him. What happened? The sons of Levi gathered to Moses, who, in turn, ordered them to go throughout the camp with their swords and kill any unrepentant idolaters. God’s judgment came, and 3,000 people were consumed (Exodus 32:26-28). This story was a reminder to the Hebrew believers that they were under a new covenant of grace. So why go back to the old covenant?

We are made righteous through Christ, not the Law. God knows those who belong to Him. God will cause a separation between the righteous and the unrighteous. As a God of justice, those not found under the covenant of grace will fall under His terrifying judgment. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are under grace, not judgment.

The law shows the distance that exists between God and man; the Gospel bridges that awful chasm and brings the sinner across it.
~C. H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!