Thursday, 17 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Mount Sinai

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel…. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. Exodus 24:9-10

These leaders probably climbed the mountain in fear and trepidation wondering whether they’d live to tell the tale... Yet they ended up having a ball as God throws a wee feast! Isn’t that awesome?

Sadly the journey up the mountain to experience God’s intimate presence only involved 70 leaders while the rest of the community waited at the bottom.

Don’t be someone who waits at the bottom - climb up!

Wednesday, 16 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Mount Sinai

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.” Exodus 20:18-19

God speaks the first two commandments out loud for the whole Israelite assembly to hear, but then fear overcomes the Israelites and they force Moses to tell them the rest.*

Fear causes the Israelites to stay at a distance rather than enjoy an intimate relationship with God that Moses does. Is there any fear in your life that is causing you to keep God at a distance?

FOOTNOTE:
* Notice the shift between first person to third person between the second and third commandments in Exodus 20:4-7.

Tuesday, 15 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Mount Sinai

“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…” Exodus 20:8-10

In Egypt the Israelites were constantly worked every day of every year. They were exploited as expendable commodities rather than as people. A day off is therefore a revolutionary concept to ex-slaves!

God is commanding them to take a day off so that they take time each week to remember they are no longer in Egypt! Their value comes from God not from how many bricks they can produce.

Monday, 14 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Mount Sinai

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7

The word translated here as ‘misuse’ can also mean “carry”. God has liberated these ex-slaves and is inviting them to be his representatives to the world. How they “carry” God’s name is going to affect how others view God.

This command is not just about how or what we speak, but whether we act on behalf of the oppressed and poor - just like God did by liberating Israel.

Friday, 11 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Mount Sinai

“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.” Exodus 20:4

A marriage relationship cannot work if one of the parties is spending their time with an image of their partner rather than the real deal! God desires our intimate focus!

The other reason for this command is that people are made in the image of God. The Israelites themselves were meant to represent God to others through the unique way they lived their lives!

Thursday, 10 December 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Mount Sinai

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

A great way to think about the Ten Commandments is to liken them to a marriage contract. It is God outlining the appropriate way for his bride, Israel, to live in order to stay faithfully married to Himself. This first command is therefore God saying that Israel shall have no other lovers apart from Him… He desires Israel for Himself alone.