The Ten Commandments: Introduction
God brought Moses up to the mountain and laid down the Law—literally. He gave Moses the foundational commands that would guide His people.
The Ten Commandments: Introduction
I’m traveling this week and next, so for the next couple of weeks I’ll be reposting a series I originally shared in 2019: a closer look at the Ten Commandments. I’ve had several requests for it, along with a specific question about one particular commandment, so this seems like the right time to revisit it.
This won’t be just a ten-day series. Some of the commandments will take a day or two to unpack. So buckle up, grab some coffee, and get ready—we’re going to take a good, hard look at the very core of God’s Law! Ready? Here we go.
What are the Ten Commandments? In the book of Exodus, God called Moses to deliver His people out of bondage in Egypt. The entire nation of Israel began a journey to the land God had promised them. That journey would span decades and countless miles. Along the way, God shaped His people into the nation they would need to be in order to enter and thrive in the new land.
During this journey, God brought Moses up to the mountain and laid down the Law—literally. He gave Moses the foundational commands that would guide His people. This “top ten list” of God’s priorities is what we know as the Ten Commandments.
They are not the Ten Suggestions. They are not the Ten Wishes or the Ten Things-to-Think-About. They are commandments, and concerning them God says:
Deuteronomy 7:12–13
“Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you…”
The Ten Commandments are the very voice of God, declaring to His people what matters most to Him.
