The Jewish day of Pentecost celebrated the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. The story in the book of Exodus of the giving of the law is marked by vivid imagery: God appears on the top of a mountain, with thunder, lightning, cloud, and earthquake. Exodus 10:19 says that when Moses talked with God, “God would answer him in thunder.” So in Acts 2 God arrives in “a sound like the rush of a violent wind,” and fire appears, not on the top of a high, holy mountain, but on the top of each believer’s head. (adapted from Treasures Old & New by Gail Ramshaw) Encountering such a powerful God can bring on a sense of awe and a sense of dread. “The Holy Spirit is serious business”. The result of this Pentecost moment so long ago is that those early followers were sent “To the ends of the earth”.
Where might God be preparing to send you? How might this bring you to a place of anticipation and excitement? How might you also feel dread and anxiety about this next move in your life?
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