How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 18
The Ten Commandments
Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.
Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” Ex. 19:1 – 6. NLT
Remember that it was in this region that Moses first encountered Jehovah in the burning bush. Now he has returned and climbed Mount Sinai. The people would spend the next 11 months at the foot of that same mountain.
God instructed Moses to remind the people of the expression of His mighty power on their behalf in the conquest of the Egyptians. And then Moses was to recap how He brought them to Himself (leading and covering them with Himself as represented by the pillar of cloud and fire), demonstrating His gracious love for His children.
Then, God tells Moses to inform the people how to remain in His favor through obedience (setting the stage for His commandments to avoid sin), to continue to be in good standing with the Abrahamic Covenant.
We don’t know why God chose Abraham, and thus the Israelites, but we do know that they were mandated to tell the world about the one true God and what He requires of them – separated from unbelievers through their best efforts at being holy.
Moses went to the elders and told them all of God’s words, and all the people promised to do what their Creator had mandated.
He ascended back up the mountain and relayed the people’s promise. God continues:
“I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.” Ex. 19:9 NLT
“Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.” Ex. 19:10 – 13. NLT
Moses instructed the people to ‘consecrate’ themselves, i.e., purify / cleanse themselves by washing their clothes, setting aside 3 days to prepare themselves, to refrain from crossing the boundaries of the holy mountain, and to wait for the sounding of the ram’s horn, and to abstain from sexual relations for the prescribed time. The people were preparing to meet their Creator.
On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. Ex. 19:16 – 20. NLT
God is invisible. Thus, He is manifesting Himself through His command over nature.
Now, He speaks to Moses of His revelation of the ‘Ten Commandments’ in the Christian translation, the ‘Ten Statements’ in the Hebrew, and the ‘Decalogue’ ‘in the Greek:
Then God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. ” Ex. 20:1, 2. NLT
What God is telling the Israelites in this ‘prologue’, if you will, is that He is their God and is directly speaking to Moses (and thus to the people), that He is the Author of these commandments, and that by His own actions He redeemed them. Jehovah shifts now to the commandments that, by their obedience, will keep them in right relationship with Him.
There are two divisions of the Law. The first contained the Commandments 1 – 4 which specifically concern themselves with our relationship with God:
One: You must not have any other god but me. Ex. 20:3
It is a Divine command, as all ten are. In this case, it is an absolute directive against worshiping false gods / idols such as the stars in the sky, religiosity, lovers of self, human reason, ancient gods, power, to name a few.
Two: “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship]. You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing graciousness and steadfast lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments. Ex. 20:4 – 6. AMP
God Himself is invisible. Any kind of image, statue, etc., diminishes Him – reduces Him to a thing of nature. Idol worship is strictly forbidden. God’s jealousy’ comes from the love for His children. As far as calling the children to account for their parent’s sin, it is not a four-generational curse. Jehovah does not permit that[1]
Instead, God is referring to how the consequences of the sin and of His judgment that follows, is often repeated by the children who witness the sinful behavior of their parents. And this imitation, then, reaps its own judgment.
However, the big picture is revealed in His love that He lavishes upon those who love and obey Him – for thousands of generations v. the three or four generations who have brought judgment upon themselves.
Three: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power].” Ex. 20:7 AMP
This is the only Commandment that brings assured Divine punishment. Again, this denigrates God’s character – usually because the act is often paired with sinful behavior, as in cursing, making false oaths, or committing evil acts (e.g., The Crusades, Islamist terrorism).
Four: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Ex. 20:8 – 11. NLT
The Sabbath (Hebrew: Shabbat) is the only repeated ritual in the Ten Commandments and was primarily associated with the Jews, and it still is in present time. This is a day for reflecting on Jehovah’s creation of the universe, and of His goodness towards us.
The second division of the Law, Commands 5 – 10, concentrate on good moral behaviors between people.
Five: “Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.” Ex. 20:12 AMP
Note two things about the Fifth Commandment. One, it is the only Commandment that rewards you when you practice it. The second thing is that we are not commanded to love our parents. Sometimes parents can be unlovable. Perhaps we honor them by keeping our distance.
Parents and children make family, and family is the bedrock of a good civilization.
Six: “You shall not commit murder (unjustified, deliberate homicide).” Ex. 20:13 AMP
When you murder someone, you are attacking one made in God’s image, and thus, you are also attacking God, cutting off one of His avenues for spreading love. This Commandment, however, does not prohibit one from killing in self-defense, national defense, or from killing as a capital punishment for a heinous crime.
Seven: “You must not commit adultery.” Ex. 20:14 NLT
Jehovah created family, which we’ve already seen is indispensable for undergirding our society. Adultery often destroys the family. In fact, it is Satan’s most effective tool for accomplishing that very thing.
God created marriage to be the only place where a man and woman can come together completely in love, and to procreate. Adultery is the greatest antithesis to marriage.
Eight: “You must not steal.” Ex. 20:15 NLT
Owning private property is yet another foundational principal that renders a society stable. There are many ways that people steal: stealing a life, any material goods, stealing a spouse, kidnapping, or anything that belongs to someone else.
My personal point of view is that when you steal, you deny the love of God by spurning His promise to tap into the unlimited abundance of the universe, to grant you what is best for you.
Nine: “You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person).” Ex. 20:16 AMP
Every word that falls from Jehovah’s mouth is pure truth. He hates anything that stinks of a lie.
Most people lie when they are afraid, fearful that they may look ‘bad’. Some may lie to make others look bad, which is a projection of how they are judging themselves. Others may lie to deny their part in any wrongdoing, trying to protect themselves from the judgment of others.
Ten: “You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] 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 belongs to your neighbor.” Ex. 20:17 AMP
What God is saying is do not practice jealousy and envy, both of which are forms of the fear of scarcity, concomitant with lust and hatred. These are loveless acts which stem from a lack of faith in Jehovah’s largesse.
(There are many, even within the followers of Christ, who are wont to dismiss the Old Testament, including the Ten Commandments within, as being an irrelevant covenant because of the New Covenant in Christ. However, look at how Jesus viewed the veracity of the Old Testament:
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” Mt. 5:17, 18. NLT
Jesus is the living word of God. Thus, He knows better than anyone what His Father meant in His word. In fact, Christ had the final say on the Ten Commandments. He evolved / distilled them into two ‘great commandments’:
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.” Mt. 22:37 – 40. AMP
Does this negate the Ten Commandments? No! It is the final fulfillment of them. With regards to the first great commandment, it embraces the first four Commandments. If you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, you most assuredly will have no other gods before you, nor take His name in vain, or forget to honor Him.
Regarding the second great commandment, if you really love someone, will you dishonor, kill, or lie to them, steal from them or lust after their possessions? Of course not.)
All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”Ex. 20:18, 19. CSB
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him [that is, a profound reverence for Him] will remain with you, so that you do not sin.” So the people stood at a [safe] distance, but Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. Ex. 20:20, 21. AMP
The people’s hesitancy to approach God on the mountain resulted in His prohibition to do so forthwith…
[1] Dt. 24:16
Building Better Americans 134
How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 17
Pharoah has a change of heart.
God speaks to Moses:
“Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told. Ex. 14:2 – 4. NLT
God gains glory by rewarding good and punishing evil. Dennis Prager: Exodus: God, Slavery, and Freedom.
Where Jehovah told Moses to have the Israelites camp left them in a place where they were trapped against the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, back at Pharaoh’s palace, he is now regretting (God is hardening his heart once more) his decision to free the Hebrews:
When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. Ex. 14:5 – 8. NLT
When Pharaoh’s vast army became visible, the Israelites panicked – crying out to God and rebuking Moses, saying it would be better to be a slave in Egypt than to be killed in the wilderness.
However, this is not the same old Moses. Having been the conduit of God’s judgments upon Egypt, he has learned that Jehovah is a promise-keeper and that He is omnipotent. He addresses the people powerfully:
“Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” Ex. 14:13, 14. AMP
As per God’s instruction, Moses tells the Hebrews to face the sea. Then, again, at the behest of Jehovah, he raises his staff over the sea. Simultaneously, the angel of the LORD that was leading the people moved between the Hebrews and the Egyptian army, separating the two until the Hebrews could escape:
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all that night and turned the seabed into dry land, and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Ex. 14:21, 22. AMP
The Israelites crossed the sea. The Egyptian army pursued them, but things didn’t work out so well for them.
So it happened at the early morning watch [before dawn], that the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and put them in a state of confusion. He made their chariot wheels hard to turn, and the chariots difficult to drive; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” Ex. 14:24, 25. AMP
Notice that the Egyptians finally recognized the God of the Hebrews and the true God. They tried to escape, but Jehovah had Moses wave his hand over the sea and the walls of water drown every single soldier and Pharaoh as well.
When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses. Ex. 14:31 NLT
Moses then composed a song to glorify God and His victory.[1]
The Hebrews have a short memory.
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went into the Wilderness of Shur; they went [a distance of] three days (about thirty-three miles) in the wilderness and found no water. Then they came to Marah, but they could not drink its waters because they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah (bitter). The people [grew discontented and] grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we going to drink?” Ex. 15:22 – 24. AMP
The people have been delivered from bondage by their Creator, Who demonstrated, through His plagues, that He is the Master of all aspects of the Universe and over life itself. And just 3 days prior, He parted the Red Sea and crushed their enemies. O ye of little faith…
Then he cried to the Lord [for help], and the Lord showed him a tree, [a branch of] which he threw into the waters, and the waters became sweet. Ex. 15:25a. AMP
When you think about it, this was a HUGE miracle. Two million plus people and their animals required sweet (potable) water to drink. God used that branch to convert what must have been a huge body of water.
Then, Jehovah tells His children how to have a better life:
It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Ex. 15:25b, 26. NLT
Afterwards, the people traveled to an oasis located about 60 miles southeast of Suez, named Elim, which is now called Wadi Garandel in present time. And they set up camp.
The Hebrews complain again:
Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. Ex. 16:1, 2. NLT
They are whining about not having meat or bread to eat and that they wished that God had killed them in Egypt instead of starving them to death in the wilderness. (Of course, they could have eaten some of their farm animals, but they needed them as provisions when they arrived in Canaan).
Our most patient Creator comes to their rescue:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.” Ex. 16:4 NLT
Aaron and Moses are angry with the Israelites for complaining about God:
“By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him.” Ex.16:6 – 8. NLT
That very evening, huge flocks of quail entered the camp to provide meat, and in the next morning, the ground was covered with white wafers tasting of coriander and honey. The Israelites called it ‘manna’ which means ‘what is it?’
And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” Ex. 16:15, 16. NLT
Moses also instructed them not to keep any manna overnight. Of course, there were some who disobeyed, and the manna became putrid and filled with maggots.
On the sixth day of the Jewish week, they were allowed to gather twice as much, so that on the seventh, they would not have to gather manna on the Shabbat (Sabbath). This provision did not spoil. Manna did not come on the seventh day, even though some Israelites disobeyed again and tried to find some.
Indeed, this was the commencement of the first Shabbat, as Moses explains:
“This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord…“Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord.” Ex. 16:23 & 25. NLT
God is getting a little frustrated with those who disobey and asks Moses:
“How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. Ex. 16:28, 29. NLT
Manna would stop flowing after the people would reach Canaan. So, God commanded that a two-quart container (called an ‘omer’), be filled with it and preserved for future generations to see. Moses eventually would place it in the ‘Ark of the Covenant’, kept in the Tabernacle that would be constructed when they got to Mount Sinai.
That journey now begins again:
At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.
“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”
But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” Ex. 17:1 – 3. NLT
This is now the third time the Hebrews have complained against God and added Moses as their target as well. Moses entreats Jehovah to help him out, fearful for his very life. God answers:
The Lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. Ex. 17:5, 6. NLT
In short order, the Israelites were met with their fourth ‘crises, when attacked by the Amalekites. At this point, all we know is that they were descendants of Esau.[2] Neither do we know what motivated them to strike the Hebrews.
Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” Ex. 17:9 NLT.
This is the first time Joshua is introduced. He would become a general for Moses and ultimately his successor. Battle time:
So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Ex. 17:10 – 13. NLT
That was God working through Moses.
While still at Sinai, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came to visit, and reunited him with his wife and two sons. Jethro had heard of all the miraculous deliverances the God of the Hebrews provided for the Israelites.
Subsequently, Jethro declared that Jehovah was greater than all other gods, (he, being a Midianite, i.e., ‘pagan’ priest himself). He watched Moses’ methods of governance where he submitted himself alone to be an intercessor between the people and God and representing God’s will for the people. In addition, Moses would play the part of a magistrate, settling disputes between the people. It took all day, and people would have to wait for hours.
Jethro concluded that there was a better way, and offered Moses wise advice:
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.” Ex. 18:17 – 23. AMP
Moses did so with great success. So, what just happened here? A Midianite priest formulated the entire Israelite judicial system. Fancy that…
Next time, the Ten Commandments…
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Ex. 15:1 – 19.
[2] Gn. 36:12