Did you already guess our new theme? This week we’ll focus on “Living as God Desires.” How fitting that we would begin with the 10 commandments. We can really sum all of these up into two: Love God and Love Each Other. But there is so much richness in this passage I hope we don’t miss.
God appears as unapproachable, and the people were afraid. And yet, God makes himself available for the purpose of showing his love by setting some safe boundaries for his children. Many people today want to compartmentalize God and say he was a mean God in the Old Testament and a loving God in the New Testament. He’s the same God.
God wanted the best for the people he had rescued from Egypt just a few short months ago. This was his message: “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.” How hard was it for them to obey? Their reward would be so great! Imagine being God’s special treasure!
When I first read that God wanted to come and meet with the people, I was amazed. There is a lot of vulnerability there, don’t you agree? For God to descend that mountain in the smoky cloud, it makes sense he would need to secure the mountain to keep people safe from the intensity of his power. Jesus would come to earth centuries later wielding that power in a much different way.
I think I would have trembled, too, with the dramatic signs of God’s presence and the sound of the ram’s horn. Those are loud and a bit frightening themselves. Thankfully getting close to God these days doesn’t end in death but in life.
What do these commandments sound like to you? Have you ever questioned any of them? Broken any of them? Did reading this list today speak to you differently than ever before? Does it make a difference to think of these commandments as gifts, given to protect us in this journey of life?
Imagine for a moment what it would have been like to heard God’s voice booming forth with these commandments. Surely, we have a strong sense of what is important to God and how he desires us to live.
If there was any question why God set up such a display of his power, Moses clarifies that for us, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” I suppose we are a lot less likely to sin if we’re watching our backs, afraid of what God may do. Yet, God will realize that his “scare tactic” didn’t really work with these stubborn humans. Despite God’s best attempt to bring safe boundaries and set behavioral expectations, the people will still rebel.
What about you? What is your response to God’s top ten?
Let’s pray. Father God, thank you for setting boundaries and making it clear how you desire for me to behave. You clearly want what’s best for me. Help me do a better job of obeying you and living my life as you desire. Help me sense your corrections and move in the right direction each day. I long for your guidance and approval. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
