Through the Bible Week 14

Themes:

Exodus 19:4-6 Shows Israel as a part of God ultimate plan. What is the difference between us being used in God’s plan and us fitting God into ours?

Answer: The central focus. We cannot manipulate God we must realize where we fit in HIS agenda.

Exodus 19:4–6 NKJV

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

2. God’s intention is for Israel in this moment to be a point of contact to lead people to God. They were to be the priesthood. According to 1 Peter 2:9, who is that priesthood today?

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

3. Why did God want a chosen nation?

Answer:

To model how He wanted life to be lived

To communicate His word to the world. Israel is a point of contact where others will be saved (See Isaiah 60:1-3)

Isaiah 60:1–3 NKJV

1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

To carry the promised seed of salvation Genesis 18:18

Genesis 18:18 NKJV

18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

4. Read Exodus 19:8 Have you ever made a commitment to God that you did not keep?

Exodus 19:8 NKJV

8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.

5. To consecrate is to set something apart as sacred. In the peoples presentation mentally and physically what do you ascertain about the holiness of God? Should our interactions with God be casual and non-chalant? What does it mean to say holiness is an immutable characteristic?

Preamble: Lists the involved parties Exodus 20:1-2

Historical Proluge: It announces what a party has done to deserve commitment from the other Exodus20:2b

Stipulations: Agreements of the convenant Exodus 20:3-17

Witnesses

Exodus 20:1–2 NKJV

1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:3–17 NKJV

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

The Law and Morality

God’s goal is to initially lead Israel to a standard for Holy Living. The 10 commandment reveal the holiness, character and nature of God. Israel will eventually use the law as a set of rules for prosperous living and a legal way to get to heaven. However, they forgot the heart of the law.

20:3-5 The Exclusivity of Worship.

6. The Israelites had lived in a polytheistic society that had tainted the purity of their monotheistic worship. God tells them that they must abandon all else to take hold of Him. Their TOTAL allegiance must be to Him alondeHow would this model apply to modern day culture?

7. Why do you think this is the 1st commandment?

Answer: If they do not learn this valuable principle on who God is, all of the things they do after are in vain.

We seek God for:

Identity

Sureity and security

Meaning

8. What are some other ways we use a surrogate for these items rather than God?

Exodus 20:4 There must be a rejection of idols. Idols are objects of worship. God will not receive other objects of worship

w9. Exodus 20:7 To misuse a name shows a lack of respect or reverence.

The Hebrew word for "vain" can mean empty, meaningless, or futile, so saying God's name without meaning or purpose falls under this prohibition. 

An empty, thoughtless, careless or insincere use of God’s name.

Swearing in God’s name with no intention of honoring.

What are some ways that we may do that or ignore that today?

Examples: (Letters have been removed for respect)

Good L __d!

Je__s!

Oh m_ G___!

Oh G__d!

O_G!

10. The principle of Sabbath is about rest and worship. This time was to be set aside regularly and sytsematically to honor God and to refresh and reset man. Do you think that lack of reverence for a sabbath could be leading to growing anxiety in the world today? What are your thoughts.