Foundations of the Faith - Moses

Introduction: Many stories of the life of Moses:

Rescued as a baby from Pharoah

Killed an Egyptian

Burning bush

Confrontation with Pharoah and the plagues

The exodus and crossing the Red sea

Provision in the desert

God’s law, revealed to Moses, outlined God’s will for righteous choices - Exodus 20:1-17

Law is summarized:

Love God - Commands 1-4

Love others - Commands 5-10

Jesus summarized the law with the Great Commandment - Matthew 22:36-40

Matthew 22:36–40 NIV

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘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. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The ten Commandments are frequently recognized as the basis for legal theory

The moral and ethical foundations provided by the Ten Commandments continue to inform discussions of justice, ethics, and the role of law in society.

However only three of the commandments are reflected in most American jurisdictions (Murder, stealing and lying) and those often have exceptions.

Example: Lying is only criminal when lying to a court (perjury) or in a signed contract (fraud) or certain statements about someone else (slander).

God’s law was a conditional Covenant with Israel - Exodus 19:5-6

Exodus 19:5–6 NIV

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

God’s promise was that Israel was a treasured possession and a holy nation

The Covenant was accompanied by blessings and curses - Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 NIV

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The law defined morality and holiness. It was not a means of salvation - Romans 3:20

Romans 3:20 NIV

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

God’s law, revealed to Moses, outlined God’s design for the sacrificial system looking forward to Jesus Christ

We have glimpses of sacrifices before Moses

Adam - Gen 3:21

Genesis 3:21 NIV

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Cain and Abel - Gen 4:3-6

Genesis 4:3–6 NIV

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

The book of Leviticus records God’s instructions for a sacrificial system to atone for the sins of the people

The Mosaic sacrifices looked forward to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice - Hebrews 9:6-12

Hebrews 9:6–12 NIV

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.