Seventh Commandment – No Adultery

Seventh Commandment – No Adultery

Exodus 20:  ¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

 

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GOD provided the seventh commandment to Moses and the children of Israel. This time HIS focus was on relationships.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was protecting the lineage of JESUS, keeping it pure and traceable.
• GOD symbolically wanted a relationship with people who wanted HIM and HIM alone.
• GOD was addressing their polytheistic mindset through the symbolism of marriage.

 

To keep the lineage of JESUS pure and traceable, GOD needed the children of Israel to remain married. They had been under the influence of Egypt for hundreds of years. Their mindset was that any god will do. This mindset would spill into their relationships. Any woman or man will do, was not enough for GOD.

 

In this commandment, GOD shows HIS commitment that HE would keep HIS promise. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” When humans look at this commandment from a human perspective, they fail miserably by boiling the statement down to sex versus choice.

 

GOD was establishing a lineage that would eventually lead to the birth of CHRIST. Both people needed to follow GOD versus the ways of the people of Canaan. Zipporah had a strange encounter with GOD, who was about to execute Moses if his son was not circumcised.

 

We are not given the context, but I believe Zipporah had to accept the command of circumcision without fighting it as she may have done. GOD wanted harmony between HIM, Adam and Eve. But due to the fall of humans, pain and rules needed to be put in place.

 

I believe the commitment to GOD is what HE is speaking about. I carefully paraphrase this passage by saying, “Children of Israel, choose a mate who will follow ME so that JESUS will come through your people and save all humans from their sins.”

 

It was not about effectiveness. The woman that JESUS spoke to at the well had many “husbands,” yet her testimony saved an entire town. David, the most famous adulterer, was a man after GOD’s heart. Not because of adultery, but because of his relationship with GOD.

 

JESUS said there is no need for marriage in heaven because HE is the GOD of the living. Humans look at themselves when reading this commandment versus looking at GOD. Their choice of a mate needed to point to the arrival of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS commandment to not have adultery?
• Have you ever considered leaving GOD and HIS ways, to pursue what?
• GOD said HE would never leave you nor forsake you, so are you willing to stay with GOD no matter what you have done?

Sixth Commandment – No Murder

Sixth Commandment – No Murder

Exodus 20: ¹³ “You shall not murder.

 

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GOD continues with giving the Ten Commandments to Moses and the children of Israel. This time HE addressed murder.

 

My Observations:

• GOD addressed the Egyptian’s negative mindset with ten plagues, but HE addressed the children of Israel’s mindset with Ten Commandments.
• GOD seemed to be addressing a complicated problem of hatred, jealousy, and rage, mixed with the thirst for power.
• GOD could not fulfill HIS prophesy if humans murdered one another.

 

Murder is different than killing someone. While the result is the same, murder has an attitude of trying to be GOD. Life is precious to GOD and taking someone else’s life to get one’s own way was a problem GOD needed to make clear to the children of Israel and to you and me.

 

The root of murder points to a seed of hatred that can be traced back to Cain. His brother Abel tried to mimic GOD by offering an animal. Abel may have done this gesture, because GOD showed kindness to Adam and Eve by killing an animal to provide clothes for them.

 

Cain was so jealous and enraged that GOD did not accept his offering of vegetables. Cain may have tried to recreate the garden of Eden and in his pride, tried to offer the vegetation from his garden. Cains murder was born out of a lust for power, and his own jealousy.

 

GOD may have also seen the defiance of Canaan. The children of Canaan hated GOD and would take land and people as they pleased. They would kill to get their own way. GOD seemed to be putting a stop to people trying to grab power through murder. Getting your own way can lead to aggressive or passive aggressive actions that diminishes a person’s value to eventually justify murdering the person.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS command to not murder?
• Are you trying to get your own way and are resisting hearing GOD?
• Have you examined your recent actions to see if you are on the path of love and peace versus self-protection and getting your way?

 

Fifth Commandment – Honor Your Mother and Father

Fifth Commandment – Honor Your Mother and Father

Exodus 20: ¹² “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

 

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GOD spoke to Moses and the children of Israel, giving them the Ten Commandments. The first four were about how to have a healthy relationship with GOD.  HIS next commandment was about having a healthy relationship with parents.

 

My Observations:

• Honor means to hold in the highest esteem.
• GOD seems to be addressing a value system that should include more than self.
• GOD does not leave HIMSELF out; rather, HE mentions longevity in the promised land that HE was about to give them.

 

Up until now, I thought this verse was about long life. That is because I would read the verse and stopped reading at “Your days may be long.” I threw away the part that GOD was concerned with. GOD wants peace.

 

When GOD cursed the earth and destroyed the garden of Eden, humans began to fight one another for territory. Physical and passive fights broke out over the tiniest parcel of land that would produce food. Some people would take their parents land, similarly to the Egyptians stealing their animals. The Egyptian culture of stealing was being addressed by GOD.

 

The promised land seemed to be the closest thing to the garden of Eden. Food would grow in abundance. There would be plenty to eat so no one needed to despise their parents, to inherit their sliver of land. The children of Israel  could have their own part of the promised land.

 

GOD was establishing peace on earth in families so that HE would fulfill HIS prophecy of making Abraham a great nation. Through mothers and fathers, JESUS would eventually be born. GOD wants harmonious families and HE promises longevity in the promised land.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the commandment to honor parents?
• What is GOD saying to you about your part in making a harmonious family?
• What purpose is GOD giving you in spreading peace and harmony?

In loving memory of Preston and Susie Washington.

Fourth Commandment – Remember the Sabbath

Fourth Commandment – Remember the Sabbath

Exodus 20: ⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

 

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GOD continues HIS commandments with “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD may have given this commandment because HE knew the people would forget to rest.
• GOD went into detail with HIS examples to ensure the people would understand what HE meant by rest.
• GOD does not get tired, but showed an example that HE even rested.

 

From what I gather from the commands given so far is GOD wants to spend time with us. HE did not create us for us to leave HIM alone. HE wants a day of rest that is spent with HIM, HIS creation and HIS people. You worked all week, enjoy one day.

 

GOD does not want us miserable and working seven days will place us in misery. HE did not make the Sabbath as a day to try harder to please HIM. The slave mindset was to make sure Pharaoh got what he wished, no matter the cost. The children of Israel were willing to work seven days a week to make things happen.

 

This attitude of working for results would leave GOD out of the equation of being the provider. A self-made pridefulness would eventually creep in, causing the worker to think more highly of self. GOD wants to be GOD. HE made us with the physical need for rest, but rest is also spiritual. We can reflect on the week and say our work is good because we are mimicking GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the need for everyone to rest?
• Are you trying to keep the Sabbath as a rule?
• Can you hear the love of GOD when HE tells you to rest and enjoy yourself once a week?

Third Commandment – No use of GOD’s Name in Vain

Third Commandment – No use of GOD’s Name in Vain

Exodus 20: ⁷ “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

 

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Exactly 430 years, the children of Israel were in Egypt. The same day they entered Egypt was the same day they left. During that time a deep mindset had guided the children of Israel into limiting beliefs. One belief the children of Israel adopted was GOD is as common as humans, so HIS name, or promises, were as powerless and useless as the next human.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s name is Yahweh meaning I AM WHO I AM (all caps).
• GOD was telling the Israelites not to take HIS position, prophecies or power lightly.
• GOD was addressing a mindset that HE was like humans.

 

For hundreds of years, the children of Israel were told that Pharaoh was a god and they had to do what he said. We do the same when we want to gain power or wealth. We make a human a god by talking about them, planning for or against them and speaking their name more than GOD’s name.

 

GOD’s name was supposed to be tied to power, knowledge, presence and love. To undermine HIS name, or take it lightly, meant that anything goes when it came to following HIS commands. A person could say, “GOD told me,” when the voice was their own selfish desire. This is taking GOD’s name lightly.

 

Other obvious examples include swearing, manipulating or instigating when GOD did not say to use HIS name. To paraphrase, “Do not use MY name for your own selfish desires or to get your way or to curse people in a joking way.” Using GOD ‘s name to manipulate people or to get a sinful wish granted makes GOD remember when and why the person did so.

 

One check to see if GOD’s name is used correctly is the fruit that comes from the use of HIS name. When love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control appear from the use of the name, then it was used properly. When confusion sets in from “believers,” and not those who dislike GOD, then check to see if GOD’s name was misused.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about what HE spoke to the children of Israel about using HIS name in vain?
• Have you ever wanted to feel special so you name dropped GOD’s name to feel important versus making HIM important?
• When you use GOD’s name at the end of a prayer, are you sure you are aligned with HIS desires?

First Two Commandments – No gods, No Idols

First Two Commandments – No gods, No Idols

Exodus 19: And God spoke all these words, saying:

 

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

 

³ “You shall have no other gods before Me.

 

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ⁵ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, ⁶ but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

 

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Moses made it back to the people to warn them about staying away from the mountain, otherwise they would be killed. When Moses got back, GOD spoke.

 

My Observations:

• GOD begins the Ten Commandments by revealing how HE wants to relate to the people.
• GOD let’s the people know that it was no coincidence that they were delivered out of Egypt.
• GOD made it clear that he sees those who hate HIM and who make idols that mock HIS position and power.

 

These first two commandments are extremely important to GOD. HE could not stan it when Pharaoh was revered as a god, and HE does not like it when we raise politicians or other celebrities to godlike status.

 

GOD does explain that HE has mercy on those who love HIM and keep HIS commandments. After 430 years, the children of Israel needed to hear the mindset that GOD wanted them to take to heart. They had believed that a human could be a god. They also believed in idols. GOD made it clear that gods and idols were not to ever be worshipped. HE and HE alone is GOD.

HE said “I AM the LORD your GOD,” when HE began HIS speech.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses that HE started off the Ten Commandments by telling the people about no gods and no idols?
• Have you made a politician or cither celebrity a god by speaking about him or her more than JESUS?
• Is GOD higher than any politician, celebrity or local leader to you so your actions can be guided by HIM?

Protecting the People

Protecting the People

Exodus 19: ²¹ And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. ²² Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”

 

²³ But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

 

²⁴ Then the Lord said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.” ²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

 

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GOD led Moses and the children of Israel, a few months into the journey towards the promised land, to Mount Sinai. HE covered the mountain in a cloud and set it on fire. After calling Moses to the top of the mountain, HE told Moses to go back down the mountain and warn the people not to try to peek at HIM, otherwise they would die.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to only want to speak to Moses to give the people instructions.
• GOD knew the people would try to see HIM, so HE added a sense of urgency to HIS warning.
• GOD called some of the people priests before HE gave the instructions of priesthood.

 

Protection comes to mind when reading this passage. GOD wanted to protect the people from their own curiosity. HE was about to establish the Levitical Priests who would be responsible for carrying the Law. HE did not want them to die before HE gave instructions of how to reverently handle HIS presence.

 

GOD would only speak to Moses and Aaron at this point. Moses had to climb a mountain at age eighty, then climb down a few times. This direct contact with GOD seemed to need the barrier of height so no one would accidentally stumble into HIS presence. GOD burned the mountain. There were no animals, insects or people left. GOD protected the people from inadvertently seeing HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS warning to the people to not try to look at HIM?
• Are you struggling with how you perceive who GOD is by forcing HIM to act a certain way before you do what HE told you to do through other servants, similar to Moses’s people?
• Have you pondered what level of reverence you treat GOD or other people?