Week 5 - Day 4
THE STORY
Rescue (Old Testament)
GOD THE LAWGIVER
Through Moses, God has rescued His people from their slavery to the Egyptians. Now through Moses, God gives His people His law.
Up until this point, Israel has been just a big family, but now through the law Israel becomes an official nation. Having delivered them, God exercises His right as their King and issues the law as Israel’s Constitution.
These laws are far from arbitrary. They flow from God’s perfect character and reveal how God’s people are to live with their perfect God. And as Israel lived by God’s law, they would be a light to the world of who God is and how good He really is.
Though the law of God given through Moses is more than just the following 10 Commandments, the 10 Commandments boil the law down to 10 key components.
Exodus 20:1-17 (NLT)
Then God gave the people all these instructions:
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
“You must not have any other god but me.
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You must not murder.
“You must not commit adultery.
“You must not steal.
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
Put each of the 10 Commandments in your own words.
Because God is Israel’s King, the 10 Commandments are His royal law. First and foremost, then, God’s law is for God’s people. But God is also the Creator of all human beings. Therefore, His law, isn’t just meant for Israel as a nation, it’s meant for all people every where. You can think of God’s law as if it were an owner’s manual to a car. As our Creator, He knows how life works best. So it only makes sense to operate the vehicle of life according to the Manufacturer’s instructions.
If you think of God’s law as the owner’s manual for life, why does it make sense to know and follow the 10 Commandments?
If you think of the laws of God as stop signs, traffic lights, pavement markings and guardrails, what happens if you or other drivers ignore them? What happens if everyone obeys them?
In the New Testament, Jesus further boils the law of God down to two commands.
Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Why would love for God and for people fulfill the intent of God’s law.
Matthew 5:21-22 & 27-28 (NIV)
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
What does Jesus say about how we are to keep God’s law.
In addition to the Law being written externally, it is also written internally, that is, on our conscience. Because we are made in the image of God, God has written His law on our hearts. We have a built in moral sense of right and wrong.
Romans 2:15 (NLT)
They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
What has been your experience with your conscience “talking” to you?
Is our conscience as accurate as God’s written law?
God gave His law to reveal how life works best and how we are to live our lives in obedience to our holy God.
Do you think God gave us His Law as a way to save or rescue ourselves through obedience? Can we make ourselves right with God by keeping His law? Why or why not?
Romans 3:19-20 (NLT)
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
What does the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:19-20 say about why God gave us His law?
James 2:10-11 (NIV)
Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
What’s the consequence of breaking just one of God’s laws?
Romans 3:23 (NLT)
Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Why is the Apostle Paul’s verdict in Romans 3:23 right?
That is some seriously bad news. Is there any hope? If God is holy and we are not, how can we be made right with God? God’s law actually graciously provides a way. We’ll look at that in our next reading on Bloody Sacrifices.
PREVIEW
Jumping ahead to the New Testament, there is reason for great hope.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Who kept God’s law perfectly and through whom can we receive mercy and find grace?
In light of what you have discovered through the Bible readings and your personal reflections, how will you respond? Finish this sentence: I will …