Moses: A 3-Day Journey From Bondage to Promiseنموونە

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments

After this great deliverance, Moses led the people to Mount Sinai where God gave them the Ten Commandments.

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” 1. You shall have no other gods before me. 2. 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. 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain . . . 4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. 5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. 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. (See Exodus 20:1–17)

These commandments are a direct reflection of the character of God, and God calls His people to live a life that reflects who He is. Why should you not commit adultery? Because God is faithful. Why should you not steal? Because God can be trusted. Why should you not lie? Because God’s Word is truth.

The Ten Commandments also spell out what it means to love. The first four commands tell us what it looks like to love God. Loving God involves putting Him first, embracing Him as He is, honoring His name, and giving Him time. The last six commands tell us what it looks like to love our neighbor. Loving others involves giving honor where honor is due, acting in the best interest of others, being faithful, giving rather than taking, telling the truth, and rejoicing in what God has given to others.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

• Which commandment seems the most relevant to your life right now?
• Why? Which command sounds the most challenging to you? Why?