Day 6: Exodus 15:19-Exodus 28:43 - 90 Day Bible Challenge

The Ten Commandments

And some thoughts from today's reading...

Please leave your thoughts, reactions, etc. in the comments! Today and tomorrow are the days I'd like to come together to share our experiences through this journey!



One of the first things we get to read today is how the Lord PROVIDES, time and time again. 

The Israelites were starving, so God provided them with exactly enough food every night. Then, God provided the Israelites with the power and strength to defeat the Amalekites when they were attacked. God also provided the Israelites with the Ten Commandments--the basic book of law:
  1. Do not have any other gods 
  2. Do not make an idol of yourself or of anything else
  3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain 
  4. Keep the Sabbath day holy
  5. Honor your mother and father
  6. Do not murder
  7. Do not commit adultery 
  8. Do not steal
  9. Do not lie
  10. Do not covet/be jealous of others
I love the Ten Commandments. The majority of the commandments God gives us have to do with treating one another fairly. Being decent human beings. Even the first two commandments are telling us to look beyond ourselves as individuals, to look beyond our "things." 

I think, more and more, we as a society continue to make idols out of things like our phones. We worship Netflix, we make gods of ourselves on social media, asking our "followers" to "like" us. I find the Ten Commandments to be very humbling, and a decent foundation upon which to base morals. 

The rest of the reading for the day is dedicated to laws God declared for the Israelites, to set them apart as God's holy people. This includes how they are to treat their criminals, their crimes, how they are to rule their judging system, how they should celebrate, how they should sacrifice, and what they should wear. 



One scripture I would like to point out specifically is Exodus 21:23-25. "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." 

I felt wary and uncomfortable reading that. I, personally, don't feel that should always be the case--and that we should always forgive. If you feel the same, YOU ARE JUSTIFIED. In Matthew 5:38-40, it says: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well." This is where the phrase "turn the other cheek" comes from. Matthew 5:38-40 is in the New Testament--it is in the time of Jesus. This is the law we are to follow, this is how we are to behave when confronted with conflict or violence. It is very important to remember that the time frame of the Old Testament where we are currently reading is many, many years away from the time of Christ in the New Testament. A lot of what is law in the Old Testament becomes a backbone for the law of the New Testament. 

Like I said, please share your thoughts, feelings, and questions in the comments! 
Tomorrow's reading is: Exodus 29:1-Exodus 40:38. 
Have a wonderful and blessed weekend! 
Jill Jafarace
Director of Youth Ministries
New Leaf UMC

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