thunder and fire on the mountain

The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Exodus 19:20

When Moses ascended Sinai at the giving of the Law, the mountain was burning. It was wrapped in smoke because the holy fire of God burned upon it (Exodus 19:18). There was thunder, lightning, and an occasional earthquake. All in all, very descriptive of Sinai like a volcano. Except this was a supernatural event and not an eruption. God was moving on the mountain to bring His covenant to His people through Moses.

The burning mountain was a visible reminder and a warning to the people of Israel of the seriousness of entering into a relationship with a Holy God. They had seen the fire of God by night in their encampment. They knew the ascending smoke that affirmed God's presence among them every day. But now that the fire and smoke consumed a mountain as God's voice thundered to Moses, everything was shaken up. And they saw God converse with Moses as their leader talked to God and thunder shook the mountain in reply.

The drama of the Law as it is given in Exodus grabs my attention. It arrests me to consider the power of the Word of the Lord. The Law stands forever. And it is as fearful and powerful as an eruption. It is a pyroclastic flow of revelation. It is as disturbing and as disruptive to my stability as an earthquake. It is as loud as thunder to my empty soul.