If you are on track with the daily Bible reading plan so far, you read something that is likely very familiar to you this week. In Exodus 20, we find the account of Moses receiving the ten commandments. In our focus on the commandments themselves, we might forget the first two verses of the chapter that explain the foundation they are built on.“And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:1-2) In these verses God reminds the Israelites who He is and what He has done.
- “I am the Lord your God.” – He is their God. There is a relationship that is personal to Him and to them. The commandments He will give do not come from a stranger.
- “(I) brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” – Not only is He their God, He has proven Himself to them. He heard their cries, and He freed them from the bonds of slavery in Egypt. The commandments He is about to give come from the God who clearly has their best interest in mind.
From there He tells them how to live in a way that shows Him love, honor and respect. But He does not stop there. It also matters to Him how they treat each other, so He gives them guidelines for their interpersonal relationships.
Although we look primarily to the New Testament for guidance in both of these areas, the foundation of the commandments is the same for us today. He is the Lord our God, and He has freed us from the bondage of sin because of His love and grace. In turn, we will love Him and each other.
Brian
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)