“Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

The structure of the book of Hebrews weaves a series of expositions of Old Testament portions sprinkled with numerous warnings.   It is from the very last warning that we discover God as a shaker.  So it shouldn’t surprise us that this is meant to have an extra rattling effect or poignancy.  Aside from the two mountains — Mount Sinai (vs. 18-21) and Mount Zion (vs. 22-24) — we find mention of the ultimate or final shaking for the purpose of “removing…what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (v. 27).  But unless we understand the full biblical context, we’ll miss the most important part of God’s shaking.

On Mt. Sinai God met the newly freed people of Israel, fresh from their Red Sea experience.  On their way they ran into a few “bumps in the road” — running out of food and water, and severely complaining about it, almost to the point of killing Moses.  Nonetheless God intervened and they finally arrived at the foot of the mountain.   God commanded them to put a fence around the base of the whole mountain to keep trespassers back (Exodus 19:12-13).  Guilty parties who crossed over were to be executed, not a welcome result of getting too close to your guardian!  On the big day they went out to meet God.  What they saw terrified them all, even Moses.  Fire burned on top.  It shook such that the ground under their feet did likewise.  Rockslides rolled before their eyes, darkness surrounded them, lightning startled them, and loud trumpet blasts drowned out their hearing (vs. 16-19).  Hebrews says that even “Moses said, ‘I am trembling in fear’” (13:21)!  Scary stuff indeed.

Another writer referred to this shaking event.  The prophet Haggai mentioned this shaking when God gave his law to motivate his generation whom God commanded to restore the Temple.  In chapter two he writes what Hebrews quotes: “In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land” (v. 6).  Creature comforts and materialism had clearly become the main concern for the Jews of his day.  They lived in “paneled houses” (1:4), an obvious sign of wealth and luxury.  So Haggai reminded them and us that God’s will, not their own pursuits of temporary delights, should be their passion.

But then Haggai adds something that Hebrews doesn’t: “‘I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty” (v. 7).  In other words, the first time God shook the earth was “to test you [Jews], so that the fear of the God will be with you, keep you from sinning” (Ex. 19:20).  The last time God shakes the earth, as we have seen above, he will do so in judgment, to “remov[e]…created things.”  Peter described this final shaking as a total meltdown: “the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Peter 3:12).  The Greek word for “melt” gives us the English word thaw.  But what of this shaking of the nations that Haggai mentions?

This second — or middle — shaking brings us to Jesus.  Who else can “the desired of the nations” be?  The Jews of Haggai’s day finally got around to restoring the Temple.  But there is no biblical record of God “fill[ing] this house with glory” as Haggai prophesied.  That means its fulfillment is still future, even to us.  That will happen only when Jesus returns to set up his kingdom on earth, which brings us back to Hebrews: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” (v. 28).  But let’s not let the point escape us — this second shaking is redemptive, looking to make restoration and reconciliation.  In other words, it is a good shaking!  And it is meant for the “nations”, that global group of non-Jewish people who will be drawn to the Savior.  God’s second shaking is meant to turn the nations to himself.

And doesn’t God do a lot of smaller shakings in our lives?  Of course.  He shakes us up by rattling our cages, but his purpose is likewise always good: to free us from our cage and liberate us from the chains that keep us from serving him with our whole hearts.  To be sure, the process of being shaken is no fun.  Losing our grip and being destabilized is never easy, but if we remember that God’s purpose is for our benefit, we can “be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

Is God shaking you up today?  Is he rattling your cage?  Can those around you see your faith and confidence as you hang on only to him and pursue that “kingdom that cannot be shaken”?