January 25, 2015
IS YOUR FAITH "SO THAT" OR "BECAUSE OF"?
Exodus 19–20
David Leventhal
Central Truth
Just as He did with the nation of Israel, God gives us reminders meant to help clear our perspective and realign our motivation as we seek to walk with Him in this dark and lost world.
Key Verse | Exodus 20:2
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.” (Exodus 20:2)
Exodus 19–20
Israel at Mount Sinai
1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”
When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, 10 the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; 1 19:13 That is, shot with an arrow whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 And the LORD said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 You shall have no other gods before 2 20:3 Or besides me.
4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands 3 20:6 Or to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
13 You shall not murder. 4 20:13 The Hebrew word also covers causing human death through carelessness or negligence
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid 5 20:18 Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text the people saw and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
Laws About Altars
22 And the LORD said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’
Dive Deeper | Exodus 19–20
Welcome to the Ten Commandments!
I confess that I usually jump past the first verses and head straight to the first commandment in verse 3. What a shame! Did you know that verse 2 sets the stage, not just for the Ten Commandments but for the entire law!?
How does God start this new thing called The Law? He starts it with a reminder! A reminder that He is the God who rescued and brought freedom to His people.
Why this reminder? He wants His chosen people to live in response to His saving work. Before the instructions for holy living are uttered, there is a reminder that He is savior. He wanted the nation to obey and respond properly BECAUSE He loved them and rescued them. As we keep reading the Old Testament, we’re going to see that one of the reasons Israel gets into trouble is that they engage in religious activities with hearts that are far from God. Their motivation is to obey (or at least look like they are obeying) SO THAT God won’t discipline them.
Do you see why this “SO THAT” and “BECAUSE OF” thing is so crucial?
Start with “SO THAT,” and you’ll end up with cold, legalistic, stiff religion (“I do or don’t do this so that God will love me”).
Start with “BECAUSE OF,” and you’ll end up with an intimate, grateful, grace-filled relationship (“I do this because of how great God’s love is for me”).
Many years later, the Apostle Paul repeats this call to the early church. After eleven chapters of reminders (Romans 1-11), he writes, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1; emphasis added)
Finally, let me remind you today that “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8) Now, because of that, make your life count!
Discussion Questions
1. Be honest: In the past month has your faith been more driven by the “so that” or the “because of” perspective?
2. In what ways does a “so that” mentality lead to cold, legalistic, stiff religion?
3. Can you think of any recent events, conversations, or circumstances that God might be trying to use to remind you that He loves you and is always pursuing you?