The Part of Faith We Don’t Talk About: Being Afraid to Listen

One of the greatest challenges I faced when I first started listening to God was fear. What would God say if I listened? What if God would ask me to do something I didn’t want to do?

I’d read enough stories in Scripture that I could guarantee that hearing God’s voice would change my life. But would it be for the better? Could I trust God?

My fear of listening to God is not a new one. It was a major obstacle for God’s people and shaped the way Israel’s relationship to God throughout the Old Covenant. 

A Secondhand Setup

One scene depicts it vividly. The Israelite tribes had just escaped slavery in Egypt when God invited them into conversation at Mount Sinai. It was a defining moment. God wanted to speak about their destiny and identity – by ratifying the covenant of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the idea of facing God directly was terrifying to them. So, they stayed at a distance and insisted that Moses go up the mountain on their behalf, then come back and tell them what God said. (Exodus 20:18-21) 

In other words, fear prevented Israel from hearing God’s voice for themselves. It’s why in the ensuing years, Moses became God’s spokesperson – or in biblical terms – a prophet. He heard from God and passed on the message as “prophecy.” (Numbers 11:24a)

This set-up later became the norm for the rest of the time under the Old Covenant. Prophets like Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel and Jeremiah all acted as God’s mouthpieces to the people. They listened to God and passed the divine message on.

But it wasn’t ideal. The people received God’s message, but it was second-hand. They heard from God through somebody else.

God’s Answer to Mt Sinai

This is what makes Pentecost so significant. The annual Jewish feast celebrated each year in Jerusalem marked God’s conversation with Moses at Sinai. There were even common elements at both: wind, fire and a voice (Exod. 20:18-19 cf. Acts 2:2-3). But there were also some major shifts. The writer of Hebrews picks up on them (Hebrews 12:18-24) using the metaphor of two “mountains” – Sinai and Zion, a symbol for Pentecost: 

At Sinai, the giving of the Law was celebrated 50 days after the exodus.

At Zion, the giving of the Spirit was celebrated 50 days after the resurrection. 

At Sinai, God spoke to one man, Moses. (Num. 11:24) 

At Zion, God speaks to everyone: sons and daughters, young and old. (Acts 2:17) 

At Sinai, God’s words were written on stone tablets (Jer. 31:33) and passed on by a mediator. 

At Zion, God’s words were written on hearts (2 Cor. 3:3) with no need for a mediator. (Heb. 8:11) 

At Sinai, the people came to a mountain full of “darkness, gloom and storm.” (Heb. 12:18)

At Zion, we’ve come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly… and to “Jesus the mediator of a new covenant… one who speaks a better word.” (Heb. 12:24) 

In other words, Pentecost was God’s answer to Sinai! 

Pentecost shows us just how magnificent the New Covenant is. Just as Jesus said, the new schema is superior to the old (Heb. 8:6-7) – even preferable to being face-to-face with Jesus (John 16:7)! Through the Spirit, we experience firsthand relationship with God through hearing the Spirit for ourselves. It is a “mountain” of life-giving joy. It’s a place of no fear… where we can enter with confidence and boldness because we know the God revealed in Jesus, who speaks a better word than the prophets ever could. 

Let not our fear stop us from listening for God’s voice. In faith, we make a decision to listen to God, knowing that everything God says is carries the heart of Jesus. Let us be encouraged not to refuse “the one who speaks.” (Heb.12:25). 

A Prayer for You 

The antidote to fear is faith. It involves reminding ourselves who God is in Jesus and leaning into receive from him. “Lord, thank you that I can come to you directly. Please help me to replace my fear with faith, believing that you are good and that you reward those who earnestly seek you. Help me not to refuse the one who speaks.”