Day 16 - OUR LAW GIVER

Once again, we are looking at the young nation of Israel in the midst of their journey from slavery in Egypt toward the promise of freedom in a land of bountiful blessing. Life lived in the presence and protection of a great and awesome God.

Previously the Israelites had seen

• the judgements of their great and awesome God upon Egypt exhibited in plagues that persuaded a determined Pharaoh to change his mind and let God's children go.
• the power of their great and awesome God displayed as He parted the Red Sea to bring them across on dry land and then closed it over and drowned the entire Egyptian army that had pursued them.
• the guidance of their great and awesome God as His presence led them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
• the mercies of their great and awesome God as He provided manna for them each morning and miraculously gave them water from a rock.

NOW - they would see

• His exalted majesty displayed from the mount as they stood consecrated before Him at Sinai and He revealed Himself as their Law Giver.

Read: Exodus 19:1-20:20

Focal passage:

And they said to Moses, "You tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us. If he does, we will die!"

"Don't be afraid," Moses said, "for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!" Exodus 20:19-20

Many Bible scholars consider the chapters you read in this devotional (the account of the covenant that God made with Israel at Mount Sinai)to be among the most important chapters in the Old Testament. The covenant God made with Israel at this time was conditional. It was contingent upon Israel's obedience to laws which were given to the people at Sinai. The rest of the Old Testament contains the story of how Israel responded to the demands of this covenant relationship. Unfortunately, it is largely a story of disobedience, warnings by God's prophets which were not heeded, and punishment. The history of Israel in Old Testament times has often, and sadly, been called "a history of failure" - failure to be the people that God wanted them to be.

God called Moses to come up on the mountain where He told him of His willingness to enter into a covenant with Israel. It was a covenant based on God's act of deliverance . . . Exodus 19:4 "You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself." It was a covenant conditioned on Israel's obedience. . . Exodus 19:5 "Now, IF you obey me fully ..." Three blessings were promised the people if they would accept the covenant:

[1] "out of all nations you will be my treasured possession" (v.5) The Hebrew literally means "private treasure" or "valued property." What an awesome blessing to belong to God and be valued, prized, and treasured by Him!

[2] "you will be for me a kingdom of priests" (v.6) a kingdom whose people live wholly to serve God, to be mediators for Him, each one enjoying the right of individual access to Him. Don't you think the theology of the "priesthood of believers" actually begins right here? Compare I Peter 2:5, 9

[3] "a holy nation" (v.6) separated or set apart unto God from all other nations to live lives that will reflect the nature of God.

Moses repeated the covenant offer to the elders and the people, and they all agreed to accept it. "We will do everything the Lord has said." Exodus 19:8

Why did God choose from among all the nations of the earth the people we know as the Jews to enter into a privileged covenant relationship? They were not a great or powerful nation. They did not have the greatest cultural achievements of their times. They undoubtedly weren't the most promising nation to be found. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 makes it clear that God's selection of Israel was based upon His grace, not their merit. "...it was because the Lord loved you ..."

Sweet sisters, God chooses you and me for the same reason. Not because there is any merit in us. Oh yeah - you might be a pretty cool "somebody" - you might have lots of unique talents and gifts - but that's not why God chose you. He chose you strictly on the basis of His grace. And just like with Israel, He sees you as valuable - His private treasure! He calls you to be a priest. As His child, He wants you have constant access to Him, to tell others of His love, to bring your supplications before Him, and to intercede for the spiritual needs of others. He wants you to live wholly for Him . . . Loving Jesus without limits and wrapped tightly in His arms of love. He wants you to be holy for He is Holy and He has chosen you to reflect His nature.

Oh, sweet sisters, haven't you, like the Israelites, seen God's judgements on your "Egypt" (which biblically is a symbol of worldliness)? Haven't you seen God's power displayed in parting your "Red Seas" (places where the enemy was pursuing you)? Or perhaps (as Shannon Ethridge worded it in Day 15's devotional) at your Blue Sea of sadness (or depression) that was draining the life out of you . . . or your Green Sea of envy over what you want but can't afford . . . or your Black Sea of sickness or chronic health issues? Haven't you experienced the power of His deliverance? Haven't you experienced the guidance of His Holy Spirit within you leading and directing you according to God's will? Haven't you, like the Israelites, experienced His mercies as He has provided your needs in ways you'd have never dreamed possible?

I know you have! I have too! (But, if you haven't - He wants you to!) Oh my, what wondrous joy to stand today with the Israelites and see God's exalted majesty displayed as our Law Giver. Does embracing Him as your Law Giver negate His grace in your life? No! Does seeing God as a Law Giver negate your understanding of His lavish love? No! It amplifies it. I loved Shannon Ethridge's explanation:

The Law is like a fence surrounding a playground. We can play freely inside the boundary, but when we climb over it and run out into the street, that's when we're in great danger of being hurt. God's laws are intended to give us freedom while keeping us from danger and self-destruction. Not just that, but they are also designed to ultimately benefit and bless us. (p.67)

The morning last week that I read this devotional, I wrote in my journal:

Truly Lord, Your laws are a reflection of Your character - for You are Just - and of the character You want Your children to reflect to the world around us. Your laws give us freedom within Your kingdom. They hem us in as protection from danger and self-destruction. Truly, they DO benefit and bless us. They are not burdens. They are the moral fabric of society. As I watch the society I live in get farther and farther away from Your laws, I see us moving farther and farther away from Your character. Truly, Father, Your laws show how passionately You love Your children. You are always working to initiate relationship. You want us to know You and be like You. You want us to enjoy an orderly society. You want us to know the freedom that comes from obedient living.

In our focal passage today, Moses said that God came in this way (as Our Law Giver) to show His awesome power. He told the Israelites to let their "fear" of God keep them from sinning. Does God want you to "fear" Him, sweet sisters? Yes! Fearing God simply means reverencing Him . . . standing in awe of His power . . . giving Him the RESPECT He is due.

Take a minute to look at the Ten Commandments Moses received on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17) and how they relate to RESPECT.

1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me - RESPECT for the uniqueness of God (20:3)
2. Thou shalt not make any graven image - RESPECT for the spiritual nature of God (20:4-6)
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain - RESPECT for the name of God (20:7)
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy - RESPECT for God's day of rest (20:8-11)
5. Honor thy father and thy mother - RESPECT for one's parents (20:12)
6. Thou shalt not kill - RESPECT for human life (20:13)
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery - RESPECT for marriage (20:14)
8. Thou shalt not steal - RESPECT for the property of others (20:15)
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness - RESPECT for the truth and honor of others (20:16)
10. Thou shalt not covet - RESPECT for the power of thoughts (20:17)

Oh, sweet sisters, when we respect our great and awesome God, we will find joy and blessing in displaying our respect in our relationships with Him, ourselves and each other!

HOLDING HIS HAND:

[1] What does today's reading teach me about how God feels toward His people?

It reminds me that He loves me so much He cared enough to build a fence around my playground! I revel in the fact that He chose me because of His love and from the bounty of His grace. I love being HIS! Oh, how mightily humbling it is to know He considers me His treasured possession! Oh, how I want to serve Him as a believer/priest by pointing others to His faithful forgiveness! Oh, how I want to live a holy life that reflects His nature to those around me!

[2] What have my feelings been toward the Ten Commandments in the past? ...have I recognized them as blessings?

Oh, yes, even when some of them have been difficult to obey, they have always been blessings!

[3] Have my feelings changed at all as a result of today's reading?

It has made me freshly in awe of God and His great love and plan for my life. It has made me want to respond to His love with ever-increasing obedience. I do not want others to look back at the history of my walk with God, like they do Israel's in Old Testament times, and see failure. I want to be the person God wants me to be! What about you?

["Respect" correlations to the Ten Commandments from the commentary: Exodus, by F.B. Huey, Jr.; Lamplighter Books 1977]