It was in the Bible first

"I am the Lord thy God."

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear this? Honestly, what is it? Sadly, for me it’s a reflex to duck so I don’t get water thrown at me. (You would have had to been there to understand). But I need to remember that it was in the Bible first and regardless of my previous experience this is a good thing to know.

The Ten commandments (Exodus 20) are so pervasive in our society that even blazing heathens can name at least half of them. We all have this checklist of “the big sins”. I haven’t killed anyone today (though tempted) so I’m good. But that is so not the point. Yes, we’re not supposed to murder but it’s bigger than that. Why aren’t we to murder? Why aren’t we to steal? Why aren’t we to lie? It’s not just so we can get cool points from Jesus in heaven and maybe some cash on earth. It’s because He is the Lord our God.

I am a complete why person. I like to know the answers and reasons for things. It’s so much easier to comply when you know why. God doesn’t work that way. He wants me to obey just because He said so. There are reasons, yes, but He doesn’t choose to explain them all. Honestly, I know I couldn’t handle all of the answers if He gave them to me. For example Exodus 20:18-21 provide a glimpse into the conundrum of understanding God’s plan. God had Moses prep the people to meet Him. They get ready and then He comes down and scares the mess out of them. On purpose. Verse 20 says “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” (NLT). God knew He was going to scare them. As He knew they would back away from personally knowing Him. And He also knew that it would not keep them from sinning as most of the Bible points out. Even knowing that Israel would turn from His ways while still in the wilderness God still desired to commune and relate with them. Try thinking about that paradox for awhile and see how much of a headache you get because it doesn’t make sense… God’s ways are not our ways.

Back to the commandments. "I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me”. Egypt is a type (person or thing that foreshadows) of sin or the world. My question to you is what is your place of slavery? Think about it beyond the “big ten”. Where are you being held captive in your life that even your worship and devotion to God is regulated. God removed the Israelites from Egypt so they could be devoted to Him on His terms not Pharaoh’s. What things control your Christianity? Is it your job? Your family? Friends? Television? Food? Low self-esteem? Other faulty thinking? The American Dream?

Anything that alters your relationship with God has become your god. Let’s learn from Israel. I personally do not want God to come down and scare the mess out of me only for me to continue in sin. Since Jesus died for our sins we have been released from Egypt. So, as soon as I post this I’ll be having a repent session for my other gods because I don't want to remain in slavery. Jesus has "give us free" (Amistad). So don't punk out and run from God and only connect with Him through Terri. God wants to relate to you personally without a go between because He is the Lord our God.

-Linda Sothern