October 20, 2020
The book of Exodus tells the story of the birth of the nation of Israel fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. From the seventy descendants of Jacob, Israel was fruitful and multiplied greatly until they filled the whole land of Egypt. After four centuries of slavery, God answers the cries of His people for deliverance. God raises up Moses for this calling, to lead his people out of bondage to a land of promise and deliverance.
Some of the greatest stories of the Bible are featured in Exodus—from the Ten Plagues, and the Passover, to the crossing of the Red Sea, and the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The Passover lamb, the exodus from the land of Egypt, the seven feasts, the tabernacle, and even the high priest, are all foreshadows of the ministry of Christ.
Chapters 1-18 contains the events leading up to God’s delivering the Hebrews from their captivity in Egypt, and chapters 19-40 shares the events in the wilderness and the account of God’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai to direct the life and worship of the nation.
Exodus 20
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 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 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.
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 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.’
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- How does God set himself apart from all other gods (v. 1)?
- What does the Holy Spirit bring to your mind when you reflect on the very first commandment to have no other gods before God himself?
- Do gods always have to be statuettes of wood, metal, or stone?
- Is there anything in your life that has more of your trust than God?
- As you consider the first five commandments concerning our vertical relationship with God, and the second five concerning our relationship with others, what is the Holy Spirit speaking to you and how they apply in your life?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, look deep into my heart and reveal to me the things you want to change in me. May I not have anything or anyone more important to me than you. Don’t let me live life in such a way to disgrace your name. Help me to make worship a priority and for you to be the object of my affection. Lord, help me to live a life surrendered to you and to consider others before myself. Give me a heart like yours! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lord God, thank you for another new day. Help me do the right thing for you today. Help me to love everyone and be kind and considerate. Help me not to participate in criticizing others but help me to encourage and build up everyone I meet today. I love you Lord and help me to love you more. Thank you for loving me before I knew you. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to live each day trusting in You with everything in my life…my finances, my family problems, my children, my job and my future. I will put You at the head of my life and lean strictly on You. Thank You for Your love and care. I lay all of my burdens at your feet. In Jesus ‘ name. Amen.
Father God, as I walk through this day, bring your words to my heart that I worship you in mind and spirit and that I treat the ones I meet with your love. Keep my mind focused on you and leave no room for unkind thoughts and words toward those I meet. Thank you for this day of life ahead. Thank you for the great cloud of witnesses spoken of in Hebrews that cheer me on as I walk these days on earth. Some days the missing of my soul mate of almost 55 years is overwhelming, but I truly believe Ernest is in that crowd of witnesses that surrounds me. Lord, help my heart be a thankful and joyful heart and keep my eyes set on You. These things I ask in Jesus’ holy and precious name. Amen.
I will obey Your commandments.
Lord, thank you for reminding me that my fear of you is not because you want to see me fail or destroy me, but you want to test me and see me flee from sin, be faithful and obedient. Help me focus on my vertical relationship with you, so that my relationship with others can be anchored in your grace-based love.
How beautifully the Ten Commandments communicate the essence of God and how to worship Him. They also reveal our sinfulness and how to live Holy and set apart unto God once we have received Jesus.
AMEN AND Hallelujah!!!!.Such a beautiful. Thank you father for evething. Thankful for all my blessings. I will follow you till the end of my days. In Jesus name I pray Amen
Plez someone put me on the routing for these Daily Devotionals.
I stopped getting them and thought they had stopped!!!