Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Read: Exodus 20
The people had just entered covenant with God, a brave act through which their promised obedience opened them up to massive privileges and benefits.
The promise was made. God descended on the mountain. And He outlines the terms of the covenant. He drops some serious rules for them to follow.
Historically, this is a Revolutionary act. When the Ten Commandments were given they set the moral standard for civilization. God outlines His commands for the people and everything seems hopeful.
How did the people respond in this first covenant conversation? Pathetically. They were scared out of their wits, they stood at a distance, and they shook in their socks. Not only that, but they gave up. Before they’d even tried to fulfill their end of the covenant, before they’d even engaged in one battle along with God, they threw in the towel.
To Moses, they whined, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die” (v.19).
Now, if you’re a slacker Christian, like most Christians, you don’t get it. But if you’re hungry for God, you know what just happened. Here the people of God had a great set up in which they could listen directly to Him. And they said, in effect, “No thanks. Not interested. Can’t do it.”
This is what most keen Christians struggle for their entire lives—to hear God consistently and clearly. And the people of God gave it up. Why? One reason we can think of is because following God is hard. Even if God tells us directly what to do our sinful and selfish ways interfere. It’s easy for us to see the Israelites and judge them for being so pathetic but the truth is that they’re human. And it’s human nature to think that your way is the best way. The Israelites didn’t want the covenant, they thought they couldn’t handle it.
But, if you think about it, you might just want to include yourself in their number. God has given you the same opportunities of covenant (read 1 Peter 2:9). And yet, most people, maybe you, abandon responsibility and say to the Moses of today (maybe your youth leader or Corps Officer or DYS), “You speak to us—that’s fine. And you listen to God for us. We can’t do it ourselves.”
The thing is that in such instances, when God had given a covenant to Israel (or when we make promises with Him) God is trying to help us fear him. He is trying to get us to live in such a way that we are rightfully fearful of not pleasing the Lord. In other words, in such covenant situations, God gives lists of rules that we may know how to be obedient and that he might instill in us a desire to please him in every circumstance.
Process:
How do you feel about the Israelites? Where they just foolish in this Chapter, or do you feel you have some understanding for how they acted? Have you given up the benefits of covenant by giving up the responsibilities of covenant? Why not crack open the Articles of War?