Read | Exodus 20
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. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children 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 servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city 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 servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, 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.”
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 total darkness where God was.
Then the Lord told Moses, “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. Do not make gods of silver to rival me; do not make gods of gold for yourselves.
“Make an earthen altar for me, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your flocks and herds. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause my name to be remembered. If you make a stone altar for me, do not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it. Do not go up to my altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.
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What aspects of God’s character do you see at work in this passage? How do you see God present and working with his people in this text?
Focus
Read this devotional made available from the Story of Scripture team at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Exodus 20 | The Ten Commandments
"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." - Exodus 20:2–3
As we continue this sermon series – With God: In the Wilderness - we pause a few moments to reflect on the fact that God kept His promise to Abraham (and his descendants) by rescuing His people from Egypt (Exo. 1–15), and now we see that what God is telling His people is this, “You were not rescued because you obeyed, but because I rescued you, this is how to obey.”
The deliverance of God’s Law – the Ten Commandments – on Sinai is a beautiful display that God is present (with) His people. How? On Sinai Yahweh reveals His voice, reestablishes His covenant with Israel, defines His relationship with His people, and claims total allegiance to be their God.
It’s easy to think that the Ten Commandments are about rule-keeping. Just checking the boxes. But it is far from that. The Law is meant to provide a framework or means for Israel to display their loyalty to Yahweh, who “brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
Where Pharoah demanded bricks from Israel to prove their loyalty to him, Yahweh expects His people to image His character in their behavior and worship of Him as their sign of loyalty. This is why the first commandment is so foundational, “Do not have other gods besides me.” In other words, do not let your behavior manifest or suggest that anyone other than me (Yahweh) is worthy of your loyalty.
Remember where this story is headed. The people of Israel, God’s chosen people, are headed to a land where they will be thrust smack dab in the middle of an environment of polytheistic belief and the worship of many gods and deities by other nations. So, how will God’s people be different? What will make them unique?
Israel’s keeping the Law will not only show their covenant obedience and loyalty to Yahweh, but it will also image Yahweh to the other nations. At the heart of the Law is the character of God.
We need the reminder today that our lives are meant to put God on display. Not as rule-keepers trying to impress God with how obedient we are. But as God-followers who want to reflect His character through our loyal obedience to His claim of allegiance upon our lives as the ‘Great Rescuer’!
What stood out to you from today’s devotional? What was familiar to you already and what struck you as new?
Pray
Ask God to help you meditate on his character through reading his word.
Take a few moments in quiet prayer to let today’s truths sink into your heart. Spend a moment praising God for one aspect of his character that you see in the passage today (e.g., God’s justice, God’s consistency, or God’s holiness). Pray for a heart that loves his statutes, asking him to reveal his character through the intentional way he instructs his people in holy living.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.