The people of Israel were overwhelmed with terror. The awful power of God's utterances seemed more than their trembling hearts could bear. For as God's great rule of right was 310 presented before them, they realized as never before the offensive character of sin, and their own guilt in the sight of a holy God. They shrank away from the mountain in fear and awe. The multitude cried out to Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." The leader answered, "Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not." The people, however, remained at a distance, gazing in terror upon the scene, while Moses "drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."

Israels folk blev grebet af rædsel. Guds ords frygtindgydende magt syntes at være mere, end deres skælvende hjerter kunne bære. For idet Guds store retsregel blev forkyndt for dem, indså de som aldrig før syndens afskyelige karakter og deres egen skyld over for en hellig Gud. De trak sig tilbage fra bjerget i frygt og ærbødighed. Folket råbte til Moses: "Tal du med os, så vil vi lytte til; men lad ikke Gud tale med os, at vi ikke skal dø!" Deres leder svarede: "Frygt ikke, thi Gud er kommet for at prøve Eder, og for at I kan lære at frygte for ham, så I ikke synder." Men folket holdt sig på afstand og så rædselsslagne til, mens Moses "nærmede sig mulmet, hvori Gud var".