Commands are not a subject that us humans gravitate to–actually the opposite. We aren’t very keen on being told what to do and being expected to do it in all circumstances. Well God has a lot of commands, not limited to just ten. Although it can be a turn-off for some, I put before you that there’s so much good behind the commands when we look beyond their face value. One of the good things I speak of is–discovering the heart of God. What he cares about, what makes him happy, what makes him upset, and how that all relates to you. Although these ten commandments are no way near the complete list of commands–God’s pleasant boundaries for life–they offer knowledge of God’s desires and emotions about the apple of his eye–you.
God first says “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:2
Before he even gets into the instructions, he makes a declaration. He reminds us of who he is in our lives. He is not only our Lord, the master of our lives (if we’ve given him that position of authority), but also our God, the creator of our lives. In other words, we belong to Him and the slavery that he refers to is equivalent to what we’ve allowed to be a master over our lives in place of God. This is a reminder of what he has done and the role that he plays in our lives.
- “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
I can imagine why God had Moses write this one down first. If you had a child that you loved deeply, with all of your heart, and that same child called random people in the neighborhood “mom” and “dad”. That child also started depending on these “moms” and “dads” to take care of their needs and desires, how would that feel?
Reflection: In your own words, describe God’s heart in this command?
2. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6
In the story of the Tower of Babel, there was a group of people working on a project–it was to build a tower as high as the heavens. Before they could succeed at this mission, God shut it down by confusing them and implanting different languages into their community so they couldn’t communicate effectively and continue the work to its completion. It was called the Tower of Babel. The main reason why this happened is because of their intention behind this effort–to marvel at what they’ve done and to glorify themselves. Businesses, money, family, artwork…anything that we can make for ourselves can easily take the place of God and it’s dangerous–and God knows it. With this command, he’s protecting us from being a slave to the gods that we can make for ourselves. This falls in line very closely with the first commandment.
Reflection: In your own words, describe God’s heart in this command?
3. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7
One of the ways to misuse God’s name is by using foul language with his name in it. Another way is by using his name frivolously, making an expression in response to something when in shock, anger, or even an impure pleasure. Speaking about him in a way that is contrary to his actual words or contrary to his nature is misusing his name as well. If I spoke poorly about someone that I love or made statements about them that were not true, I can’t imagine being able to maintain a close and deep relationship with that individual. If the tables were turned, I would feel disrespected, hurt, and I wouldn’t be able to trust that person.
Reflection: In your own words, describe God’s heart in this command?
4. “You must remember to keep the Sabbath a special day. You may work six days a week to do your job. But the seventh day is a day of rest in honor of the Lord your God. So on that day no one should work—not you, your sons and daughters, or your men and women slaves. Even your animals and the foreigners living in your cities must not work! That is because the Lord worked six days and made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. And on the seventh day, he rested. In this way the Lord blessed the Sabbath—the day of rest. He made that a very special day.” Exodus 20:8-11 ERV
When I finally understood to not look at this command for its face value only, I saw God’s heart more clearly. It’s not a “because I said so situation” here, and there’s actually more context to it in the New Testament, so highly recommending to study this out. But what’s happening here is God again wants us to remember that he is our God and we are not to be slaves to anything, including our work. He wants us to work, absolutely, but does not want us working as though our survival depends on our work–what we can do. And we don’o’t need to work as though our survival depends on the person or people we’re working for. It’s God who provides and it’s God who gives freedom. We can (and according to scripture, must) rest in him which honors the authority of God and the freedom that we can have in him.
Reflection: In your own words, describe God’s heart in this command?
5. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
A father and mother are the first images of love and leadership in a child’s life–or at least are designed to be. Whether they did a good or not-so-good job, our concept of father and mother/authority is purposeful. And the instruction to honor them shapes a heart that helps us to honor our true and heavenly Parent. The father and mother dynamic could be a bit hard for some (Psalm 27:10 if needed), so I encourage those to look beyond the people in these positions and seek to truly understand the heart of God in this command.
Reflection: What can I learn about God’s heart as I reflect on the instruction and promise in this command?
Commands of God aren’t intended to communicate a parental stance of “because I told you so”. They’re also not intended to suck all the fun out of life, but rather to help us design an existence that is full, vibrant and protected–while gaining more and more knowledge of who God is in this thing called life.
The final six to ten, coming soon.
Rise and Shine Bright.