The Ten Commandments

Scripture:

Exodus 19:1-20:21


Observation:

Moses is talking with God, and God gives Moses a message to His people. This passage does give us the Ten Commandments, but before God gives His people the commandments, He tells them He has a conditional promise for them.

“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine... (19:4-5).

The people’s response? “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (19:8). After this response, God tells the people to get ready (be consecrated), because He is coming in a cloud. And He does. The people get a taste of Who He is. Fire. Smoke. Thunder. Flashes of lightening. The sound of a trumpet. Even the mountain trembles.

Fearsome.


Application:

The people were afraid. God showed them a portion of His power and might, so they would fear Him. God is holy. He also is love. The fact that He has redeemed and loves His children should not diminish our awe or our respect of Him. He is the King of the universe and we are His servants. He is (for the born again) our Heavenly Father and we are His children. He is both Father and King and deserves both our adoration and our awe. He also deserves our love and our obedience. (And as we have talked about in previous studies, love and obedience are intertwined.)


Prayer:

Father, please fill me anew with awe of You!