God And Moses And
The Ten Commandments

Moses and the Ten Commandments is part of a vast story about God bringing his people out of exile...in Egypt. You can go from here to Abraham's page to see God forming the covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

It is that covenant that drives the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments...to get the Israelites to the promised land.

Covenants are religious contracts ...with the same form and elements as civil contracts...in which

• all parties agree to exchange valuable benefits...
• all agree to the terms of receiving those benefits...
• and there is a penalty for default on the agreement.

As for the Mosaic covenant

They are to inherit the land God promised to Father Abraham but God writes the Ten Commandments in stone (Ex32:15ff)...and they must keep them.

God does not give such handsome benefits without conditions...no contract or covenant does. The strings attached to benefits in a contract are strict and enforceable through the penalty clause.

By their nature...contracts are win-win. When God binds himself to perform and deliver on his promises...he wants something in return.

Many people believe that God loves them unconditionally. But they simply have not read the scriptures where it is stated over and over that they must keep the Ten Commandments to receive the promised benefits. For example...read the story of the rich man (Mt 19:16ff).

God wants two things from Moses and the Israelites.

• Moses is to display God's sanctity to the Israelites (Deut 32:51)
• The Israelites are to keep the Ten Commandments.

Those are the terms of the covenant with Moses and the Ten Commandments.

The Israelites agreed to the terms (Ex 24:3). No contract of covenant can exist without full agreement on both sides. You cannot force 'benefit's on people who do not want them...who do not accept your terms...and then punish them if they do not comply.

When you sign on to a covenant or a contract...your fate is literally sealed. Either you will comply with the terms of the covenant and enjoy its benefits...Or you will default and be hit with the penalty clause.

For failing to display the sanctity of God to the Israelites (Num 20:12)...God punishes Moses and Aaron by depriving them the honor of leading the Israelites into the promised land.

As for the Israelites he tells them they may either keep the Commandments and enjoy prosperity and long life or...if they don't...they will perish and die quickly in the land he has promised them.

Moses and the Ten Commandments became the foundation of the New Testament (Mt 19:16ff).

When the rich man asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life...Jesus responds "Keep the Commandments". He then spells them out again for him.

But many people in the church do not keep this foundation of gospel life...they default on the religious covenant with God...and many have paid the price under the penalty clause...they have been banished from ministry.

• A mutual exchange of desired benefits
• the boundaries or limitations or terms under which those benefits will be given
• A penalty clause for violating the specified terms

As you consider the fact that God relates to humans...even through the highly privileged Moses and the Ten Commandments...in the ancient form of a contract...a religious covenant...you may have questions about how this relates to boundaries in ministry.

If so...

then just fill out the form below and we'll get back to you with a timely reply.

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