36. The Ten Commandments are issued atop Mount Sinai. The ten most profound words that have influenced humanity to this day, because no one can do them

“If you do not believe what Moses wrote, how can you believe what I say?” ‭ 【 约 5 : 47 】

Two full months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai. The desert is like the sea, the mountains like giant ships. The full moon hung atop a sharp mountain, its cool light casting down, and the Israelites’ tents looked like sails floating in the sea of sand.

They had grown accustomed to picking up manna every morning, just as they saw pillars of cloud every morning and pillars of fire every night—no longer surprised. Not long ago, Moses struck a rock in the desert with his staff, causing clear water to flow, and everyone was accustomed to drinking it daily. And the experience of crossing the Red Sea under the Red Sea just over a month ago feels even more distant, like a dream.

The past is gone, and only the current dire situation haunts their hearts: endless yellow sand, lack of water and meat, desolation, and no sense of life. Why does God not immediately bring us into the promised land, but instead delays here?

But God was determined to shape these people at the foot of Mount Sinai, to stay there for a full ten months, to make a covenant with them, and to proclaim the law for them. Here, they have no external enemies; their greatest enemy is their inner selves. They are full of servility, only caring about their appetites, acting recklessly, and worshipping false gods recklessly.

But God wants to change them in His way. Four hundred years ago, God called Abraham to deliver one of his bait because of his faith; four hundred years later, God will train his two million descendants to become the elite soldiers of faith. Four hundred years ago, God promised Abraham to become the father of all nations; four hundred years later, God would temper this barbarian slave into God’s chosen people, a kingdom of priests.

Mount Sinai: A year ago, God called Moses down from the burning bushes to save the Israelites. A year later, God called Moses again to the top of Mount Sinai and said to him, “Tell the house of Jacob and say to the Israelites: If you listen to my words and keep my covenant, you will be my inheritance among all nations.” You shall be priests to kings and holy nations to me. ”

Moses told the people that God would make a covenant with them, and without hesitation, the people responded in unison: “We must obey everything God has commanded.” On the third morning, the time of the covenant arrived. Moses led the cleansed people to the foot of Mount Sinai, with his brother Aaron following closely behind, and the elders of the twelve tribes, each bringing men from different tribes, followed closely behind Aaron. The people trembled as they walked, not daring to look up. After reaching a certain distance from the foot of the mountain, they dared not take a step forward.

For God, through Moses, had already warned them that whoever touched the foot of the mountain would be struck by God. At this moment, thick clouds had already gathered above the mountaintop, lightning flashed and thunder roared, lightning tore the sky like tearing apart, massive thunder shattered the heavenly court, the whole mountain burned like a furnace, black smoke rising, and the sky churned upward.

The people’s faces turned ashen, trembling with fear and fear, prostrating themselves on the ground, but the ground trembled like a sieve of chaff. The epicenter of the shock came from the mountain, which was like a ship at sea, rocking and swaying. Amidst the black smoke, flames flickered like snakes, darting everywhere.

The people feel as small as insects and ants, helpless and uneasy, unable to look at them, yet in their hearts they understand: I, a sinner, before the majesty of God, am like chaff trying to approach the flames—how can I escape? The clouds grew thicker, lightning flashed more frequently, thunder struck harder, mountains shook more violently, and the people were terrified to the point of tearing their hearts apart, unable to seek help.

From the mountaintop, the sound of horns could be heard, like a heavenly army gathering and thousands of horses neighing silently. At the sound of the horn, Moses stepped forward, leaning on his staff, his hair flowing, looking up toward the mountain, calling out to God, asking God to forgive the people’s transgressions and to guide them in their future.  

God was on the mountain peak, responding to Moses with a thunderclap, commanding him to climb the mountain and meet God. Moses, because of God’s election, relying on faith in God and God’s earlier promises, climbed the mountain step by step without a scratch. The mountain was shrouded in dark clouds, dark as night, yet above the summit there was the glory of the gods.

On the summit of Mount Sinai, God issued the Ten Commandments to Moses like a constitution, revealing God’s will and standards for humanity. The first four commandments emphasize relationships between humans and gods, while the last six emphasize relationships among people. Moses directly recorded God’s command: You shall have no other gods before me.

Do not idolize yourself, nor be the image of the things in heaven, on the earth, and in the waters beneath the earth. Do not falsely claim the name of the Lord your God, for anyone who falsely claims the name of the Lord will not be without sin. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Honor your parents so that you may enjoy long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. and must not kill anyone. and must not commit adultery or sexual misconduct. and must not steal. Do not give false testimony to entrap your neighbor. Do not covet your neighbor’s house; Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, servant, oxen, donkey, or anything of his possessions. Besides the Ten Commandments, God also issued specific civil laws to Moses concerning civil disputes.

He also established the death penalty to include: worshipping false gods, murdering people, practicing witchcraft, and having sexual relations with beasts. God reaffirms the Sabbath and the Sabbath year, and has established three festivals each year: Passover at the beginning of the year, the Mid-Year Harvest Festival, and the Year-End Harvest Festival.

Moses descended the mountain and reiterated all the commandments and decrees of the Lord to the people. The people, having just experienced God’s majesty, were amazed that Moses dared to go up the mountain and survive, and were filled with awe, saying in unison, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” ”

Have they truly kept God’s law? Has the covenant between God and Moses ended here?