By Andrew Williams – March 8, 2022
Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands. Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work — you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy. Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Exodus 20:1-17 HCSB
Good morning fellow disciples.
The Israelites were in bondage for a long while. It was about 400 years since they left the land that God had promised them. They were living in a foreign land with many different gods. Many of them were probably worshipping these gods.
Now Jehovah God showed up and delivered them from captivity. For many of them, a personal relationship with Jehovah God was new and they had to learn how to live in relationship with Him. God now decides to give them instructions on how to love Him and how to love others.
Let me say that again. God’s instructions were basically: Love Me by doing this, and love your neighbors by doing those things.
Wouldn’t you love to hear God giving you instructions on how to show love to Him?
Wouldn’t you live to hear God tell you how to love others?
God literally SPOKE to all the Israelites! How awesome was that? I would love to hear God speak to me like that!
How did the Israelites react?
All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”
Exodus 20:18-19 HCSB
Isn’t this how we react to hearing God’s instructions? The Israelites set a bad example for us. Moses had to tell them the reason why God spoke these instructions to them:
Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not sin.” And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:20-21 HCSB
Prayer: Father God, just like the Israelites many of us are afraid to hear Your instructions. We are so afraid of Your awesomeness that we run away from fellowshipping with You in the way You require. You don’t want us to fear You nor do You want us to sin.
Many of us are still standing far away from You while others are drawing close to You. We repent of our sin of disobedience to Your instructions. No more will we fear You God! You are our loving God and we love You. Like Moses we will draw close to You and come into to Your presence and fellowship with You.
From today onwards we will love You, other persons, and Your creation the way You require. Amen.
Amen 🙏
Amen
God is still speaking to us in various ways .