God's Story - Law

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." 
(Exo 20:1-17 NLT)

CREATION... FALL/BROKENNESS... A PROMISE... 


THE LAW

For the Israelite the law was a complex system of rules and consequences.  That being said, they were basically the 10 commandments (with every variance that the human mind could manage) and the action/cost required in order to reconcile with God.

The law was like a big scale.  When one of God's rules were broken (sin) then something was required to re-balance the scale (usually an animal sacrifice).  Through this system God taught the Israelites the cost of sin and to value God's rules or standard.

It was through this system of LAW that God established a people for Himself.  His plan was that all the nations of the world would see His Glory through the people of Israel - that Israel would be different as they showed their love and respect for God by honoring His rules, but also that in doing so God's grace and power would be poured out and stand in contrast to the neighboring nations and their "gods".

I love the fact that in the middle of this fallen world, God gave us a picture of a people who could have all the benefits of the Garden in the middle of a world that went against Him.  A picture of a God who went to battle on behalf of His loyal people as a protector, a God who was a provider, a God who poured out His blessings as long as they chose Him by obeying Him.

It is in this picture that the Israelites still live with the hope of the promise given to Abraham, because those neighboring nations simply watched as Israel and her God stood out, yet they were on the outside until that promise is fulfilled.

There are people today who watch from the outside as we reflect an incredible God, waiting to take their place as a part of God's plan....