Exodus 20: A Code of Ethics
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
Nations around the Israelites, who worship many gods, live in constant fear of the unpredictability of their gods. Who could tell what might anger or please them? But now God himself, maker of the universe, is giving the Israelites a binding treaty signed by his own hand. They will always know exactly what God requires and where they stand before him. They now have a basis for trust and security as a nation.
"Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," God says in Exodus 19: 5-6. He wants a nation like no other, a model society centered on a committment to him. All the Israelites wait in anticipation as Moses climbs a dark, smoky mountain to meet with God. No one present can miss the significance of this meeting, marked by thunder and lightning and a loud blast from a trumpet. The ground itself shakes as in an earthquake.
Out of this meeting on Mount Sinai come ten simple rules, expressing the kind of behavior God wants from his people. It is truly a day of wild hope. If the Israelites obey, they will live free from diseases, their crops will grow bountifully, their women will give birth to many children, their armies will prove victorious- in short, they will enjoy unprecedented national wealth and security.
Life Question: What difference would it make if the Ten Commandments had been worded positively (reading "You shall..." rather than "You shall not..." ? Would it help to clarify anything better?
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
Nations around the Israelites, who worship many gods, live in constant fear of the unpredictability of their gods. Who could tell what might anger or please them? But now God himself, maker of the universe, is giving the Israelites a binding treaty signed by his own hand. They will always know exactly what God requires and where they stand before him. They now have a basis for trust and security as a nation.
"Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," God says in Exodus 19: 5-6. He wants a nation like no other, a model society centered on a committment to him. All the Israelites wait in anticipation as Moses climbs a dark, smoky mountain to meet with God. No one present can miss the significance of this meeting, marked by thunder and lightning and a loud blast from a trumpet. The ground itself shakes as in an earthquake.
Out of this meeting on Mount Sinai come ten simple rules, expressing the kind of behavior God wants from his people. It is truly a day of wild hope. If the Israelites obey, they will live free from diseases, their crops will grow bountifully, their women will give birth to many children, their armies will prove victorious- in short, they will enjoy unprecedented national wealth and security.
Life Question: What difference would it make if the Ten Commandments had been worded positively (reading "You shall..." rather than "You shall not..." ? Would it help to clarify anything better?
.
How about transforming the 10th one..."Thou shalt not cover your neighbor's goods" into "Thou shalt be content with what you have in life!" This makes this commandment a bit more comprehensible for those of us who are tempted with the silly notion of trying to keep up with the Jones'. Do I really need a bigger house? Nicer car? Designer clothes? More extravagant "toys"...you know, like an electric guitar...(actually, I did REALLY need this little perk in my soon to be 40 year-old life, I think...) Anyways, you can spend your whole life accumulating "stuff", but the old cliche that "you can't take it with you" certainly serves as credence to God's commandment, simple in words yet difficult at times to abide by.
.
On a somewhat lighter note, did you ever wonder if Moses was just a bit overwhelmed during his little discourse with God on Mount Sinai? If it were just the 10 Commandments that he had to relay back to Israelites, he probably could have committed those to rote memory. But the next several chapters are filled with laws concerning numerous topics: slaves, violence, property, festivals, appropriate punishments, etc… Can you imagine the look on Moses’ face as he was listening intently on everything that God was instructing him to convey to the Israelites? Too bad he couldn't’t have thrown his all-powerful staff to the ground and instead of having it turn into a snake, it could have transformed into a Palm-Pilot or personal laptop outfitted with Microsoft Word. Just a thought…
2 comments:
I don't think it was the the proper time or situation to present this positively as no one had the power and presence of the saving Holy Spirit to follow the rules for Kingdom Living. When Jesus came and presented Himself as Saviour, He gave us the new commandments in the form of the Be-attitudes : His blessings come to people who are poor and needy of Him ; who find His comfort for their sorrows ; who through humilty inherit all that is of importance on earth ; they have an appetite for the right things of life and are never unsatisfied with Him ; they understand mercy ard yearn for pure hearts ; they work towards a life of peace and want to live the right way in His Kingdom on earth. The also understand that a life of faith in Christ is the only way to be successful in this endeavor. Jesus was the only One who could complete the "Ten Commandments" and offer us success and forgiveness at the same time.
People should read this.
Post a Comment