Mt. Sinai’s Failure Led to Mt. Calvary’s Sacrifice

God’s wisdom provides the needed discernment for our lives. He is supremely and unapologetically wise. We are not. His instructions for our lives are for our benefit, and yet we suspect him to have sinisterly ulterior motives. While the purpose for obeying his commands finds its root in God’s glory, its fruit is for our good. No one has ever regretted following God’s wisdom, yet we all know the painful realization that our chance at peace went missing in those moments when we relentlessly committed to disobedience (Isa. 48:18).  

Will we rely on him? As his wise instructions come to us, we have three ways to respond. Regarding God’s wisdom, each of us is either ignorant, stubborn, or wise. Which one are you currently?

#1. Ignorant

If you are ignorant, that means that you aren’t aware of his wisdom. For those who have never actually investigated the claims of Scripture, you may honestly be ignorant concerning what the wisdom of God is. You might be more abreast with the trends of the culture than the truths of the Bible. Let me assure you: God’s wisdom is not a cosmic killjoy but a serious merrymaker. As you seek out the understanding of God heralded through the Scriptures, you will find the most reasonable and delightful insights for life. Do your personal best to study the Word so you can present yourself to God unashamed as you accurately handle his words of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). His Word makes the simple wise (Ps. 19:7). If applied, his wisdom makes you unique among all other people (Deut. 4:6-8).    

#2. Stubborn

If you are stubborn, that means that you recognize his wisdom but are unwilling to heed it. The difference between the ignorant and the stubborn is awareness. While ignorant people have some margin of excuse, stubborn individuals have none. You know precisely what God’s Word says regarding the wisest way to live, and you rebel against it defiantly. God says right, and you are determined to go left. With a tiny clenched fist raised up towards the massive skies, you think your way is better than his. You need to repent, and you need to repent now. Every stubborn defiance is robbing you of living in the center of God’s superior wisdom. 

#3. Wise

If you are wise, that means that you are aware of God’s wisdom and seeking to be obedient. You comprehend that fearing the LORD is the starting place for knowledge, and if applied, you exhibit good understanding (Ps. 111:10). This type of biblical wisdom should never puff up the recipient but rather humble the benefactor (Prov. 11:2; Jas. 3:13). We should be gleefully grateful that the Spirit of God desires to pass his wisdom to us (Isa. 11:2; John 14:26), and embolden us to apply it (Phil. 2:13; Col. 1:29). To obey this wisdom, we must walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Rom. 8:4).

We all have received God’s wisdom yet rejected it. God’s wisdom descended at Mt. Sinai, and our disobedience to it led him to ascend upon Mt. Calvary. The provision of God’s wisdom came through the commandments, and the protection against its consequences went through the cross. Since none of us can keep it perfectly, God, in his understanding, sent Jesus to rescue us from our foolish ways of living. Jesus on the cross displays the grand wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). The stability of this life and the security of the next life comes down to whose wisdom you prioritize. Choose wisely.