Exodus 19:1-20:1-21
How Gracious God is! The people of Israel have been so long away he gives them instructions on how to act and what not to do. This is definitely good news.
Now these 10 Commandments. This is interesting. Only 10? There are lots of rules for living, these must be the prime ones, the ones that we don't want to forget.
Right off, we see that God is the one who brought them out of Egypt. We've now written this down lest we forget. Really good to know! I forget things easily enough so it is great to have this written down as number one.
No other Gods, Ok I don't have to worry about all those little gods who might have been demanding time and energy in Egypt. This too is good. I don't have to spend time or energy on any of these other things that used to (or could) demand my attention.
Right near the top, now we see we get a day of rest. WOW! after slavery for 430 years. this is a really big deal.
Honor your father and mother...why-so it will go well with you. This comes with a promise. So that we may live long in the promised land-in the land where we are NOT slaves. GREAT!
These next ones, sound like a plan for living in society safely and peacefully; don't murder, don' t commit adultery, don't steal, don't be a false witness (no lieing), and don't covet (gosh everything we have we just got as a gift, it makes good sense not to let ourselves be unhappy because what we have is different than what our neighbor has).
Now this last bit...God is SCARY! Hey Moses-you go talk to Him we are afraid. And guess what this is good news too. Moses says if we are afraid of God (He is God after all-remember all the signs and parting the Red sea and the dead Egyptians?) we will not sin. "Lest we die." Oh, I remember that from Adam and Eve-I guess that we need to remember who God is and who we are, lest we forget.
Today, I pray that I remember that God is God, and I am not. Remember to keep these commandments, and not to sin.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
No comments:
Post a Comment