Moses & God’s Law
Exodus 20:1-17
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
After God led the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, he brought them to Mount Sinai to provide them with important teachings about how they were to live as people of God. There, God gave Moses the 10 commandments which Moses in turn provided to the people. These commandments were to guide their spiritual, social, and emotional lives. While Jesus later summarizes the law as loving God and loving your neighbour as yourself. The 10 commandments provide us with the specific examples that help us understand what the broad principle (love) looks like.
As you reflect on these commandments, which one(s) stand out to you? Which one(s) do you find most challenging? Can you see how each one fits within the broad principle of love that Jesus teaches about and embodies?
Although none of us can keep God’s law perfectly, these commandments set a standard that help us know what it looks like to live as part of God’s kingdom. The story of Scripture, including all those who are part of this Jesse Tree, reminds us that God is full of grace and his power is not limited by our weakness or failings. We are called to live a life of love, but we can only do it through the power and presence of God in our lives.
Prayer:
Thank God for both the law and for his grace that helps us to come back to a life of love even when we fall short. Share with God those commandments or areas of your life where you struggle to live obediently and ask God to help you lean into love no matter what.