Exodus 20:18 When people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance….
Rules are important. Especially when a group is going from 400 years of slavery to freedom, rules can be crucial. But they can also be deeply abused, knowingly or otherwise. The commentary I’ve been reading through Genesis and Exodus thus far has been incredibly enlightening, especially historical background and details that I am ignorant about. But in the span of this one chapter, that commentary has treated derisively—by name—two religions and a recording artist, and that seems so grossly opposed to what God was trying to accomplish in Exodus 20.
Exodus 20:19 …and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we shall die.”
My personal paraphrase of all God’s commands is “Love God. Love others.” I have no clue where I first heard this. It’s certainly not original to me, but it helps me keep myself on track in my walk. God wants a personal relationship with each of us, and He doesn’t employ guilt or shame to bring that deep, loving, intimate relationship about. Relationships based on guilt and shame don’t typically lead to deep, loving intimacy. God knows that. So do we.
Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, even for this commentary, which doesn’t fulfill Your mandate to love You and love others. Rules, laws, and commandments are important, Lord, but we are human and fallible, and we often use them to wound each other instead of to draw closer to You. Help us to love, respect, and cherish You and Your people, Lord. Help us to remove the plank from our own eye before we try to remove the speck from our brother’s (Matt 7:5). Help us to keep the heart of Your commands instead of using them as weapons. Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 20:21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.