The Top Ten

Exodus 20

- Israel is to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They are God's priests, so this begs the question priests to whom? 

 - Look at God's intro into the ten Commandments, I am the LORD who brought you out of Egypt out of the house of bondage. Israel is now GOD's special people; their Job is to claim the land GOD promised to Abraham for his descendants. 

- They were to execute GOD’s judgement on the remainder of the Giant clans. That mixed race, the remnants of the Rephaim. 

- Edom, the descendants of Esau had already eliminated some of Giant clans. 

-  Next, Israel was supposed to do for the nation’s, the ones disowned at the Babel event, what GOD just did for them in Egypt. Rescue them out of bondage and re-direct them back to GOD. How do they do that? Next thing GOD mentions is the big 10.

- these commands are given to Israel, not gentiles, not to nonbelievers so do not expect these other people groups to follow them, unless they become followers of GOD.

- This priestly nation is suppose to model for them a better way.

- The first three commands are how this nation, this people are to respond to GOD, obey, honor, respect, and love. Two of the commands relate to how they respect GOD and take care of their families and people under their authority. The last five is how they respond to each other as a people of this new nation.

- Have no other elohim before GOD. In case you have forgotten what an elohim is, they are spiritual beings. Things these spiritual beings are not to be compared to - imaginary gods, money, hobbies, etc. The other nations were under the authority of other gods, sons of GOD.

- Don't make images of things, in heaven, on earth, in the water under the earth. Worship GOD alone, no one has seen GOD at anytime except for Jesus. No one can look upon GOD, don’t you think the adversary would use this little tidbit to his advantage if he could? As it is we have some very unrealistic ideas through sketches, paintings etc. of what some people think Jesus looked like.

- do not bow down to them to worship them, follow them, serve them. I think it has been made very clear they exist, do not have anything to do with them, period. The risk of following them could have family implications too, it may take three or four generations before their grip is broken on a family. That is the risk a person takes serving them instead of the one true GOD, but even so GOD is merciful, if you have not seen it yet, between Eden and Mt. Sinai, you are not looking closely enough.

- Do not take, carry, bear up the name of GOD in vain. Israel is now GOD’s chosen people, priests representing the ‘Name’. If the act improperly, what does that say about the ‘Name’ of GOD? Would they be misrepresenting him if they acted apart from his will? Another question here is if you have someone that does not follow GOD and is not his representative how can that person break this command?

- These are the commands that will protect them where they are going against adversarial sons of GOD and when dealing with other Nations.

- Keep the Sabbath day, set it apart. GOD did not give an explanation to the Sabbath before Sinai, but he does now. Take a break spend time with family. Maybe use some of that down time to get to know GOD a little better too, wouldn’t that be a novel idea? (Just a thought)

- Honor Dad and Mom, this one has a promise built into it, if you do this you will have length of life in the land GOD is going to give them.

- These are the ones that will also make this nation stand out from the others. Don’t kill your fellow Israelites, Don’t commit adultery, notice this is not gender specific, it takes two to tango. Do not steal, do not testify falsely against their neighbors. They must not covet anything that is their neighbor's.

- notice verse 22 GOD said he talked to Moses from Heaven, take heart in knowing that whatever the distance maybe, there is no distance to great for GOD to reach out to you.

- GOD repeats in verse 23 about not making gods of silver or of Gold, why? Because it will be a problem at the end of Moses Forty day stay on the mount.

Verse 25 – When they make an alter for GOD, they are not to make it with hewn stone. Using tools will pollute it and steps were also not allowed. The tower of Babel more than likely falls into this category and so does the pyramids, interesting.

Exodus Chapters 21, 22, and 23 GOD teaches Moses judgements to give to the people.

Exodus 24 – GOD invites Moses Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel over to worship at a distance and to enjoy a meal in the presence of GOD. (at a distance, still cool!)

- Verse 4 says Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD, the judgements that he just told the people as GOD had instructed them. The Pentateuch in the early stages.

- GOD tells Moses to come up to him on the mount and GOD will give him tables of stone, a law and a commandment written by GOD.

- Moses went up the Mount, the Israelites saw a devouring fire up there and Moses disappeared into a cloud (doesn’t that sound strangely familiar?) and was gone forty days and nights.

Next – Highlights