Earlier in Exodus, we see the LORD set Israel apart from Egypt during the plagues by protecting them. Then the LORD sets Israel apart by taking them out of Egypt, separating them from that nation and making them HIS nation.
In today’s chapters, we read about the Ten Commandments, as well as more detailed civil laws the Israelites were called to obey. By giving these commandments and laws to the nation of Israel, God was calling them to be set apart from the nations around them, and the nations they would encounter when they entered the land of Canaan. Surrounding nations worshipped many gods – Israel was to worship the One True God. Other nations carved images of their gods to worship – God forbid any carved images of things in heaven or on earth to worship. Other nations likely invoked the names of their various gods in oaths, magic or other deceptive ways – God forbid using his name in vain. Other nations worshipped false gods that created nothing – the LORD commanded Israel to pattern their life after his creative work: work six days and keep the Sabbath. These first commandments were to dictate how the people of Israel were to live in honor and worship of the One True God who led them out of Egypt. The remaining commandments dictated how they were to live in relation to one another: honor parents, no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no lying, and no coveting. Again, the commands of the LORD were meant to set Israel apart from the nations around them. The pagan nations they would encounter lived and worshipped completely different – they did not know the LORD. But through the conduct of the nation of Israel, and the mighty works the LORD would do through them and for them – soon all nations would know the LORD.
Later, Jesus would sum up these Ten Commandments into two (Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31; and Luke 10:27)
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39
As we will see, Israel failed at keeping these laws perfectly – it wasn’t possible because of sin. But it didn’t change the fact that it was God’s standard and he commanded that it be kept perfectly (Leviticus 11:44). It’s why he also commanded that sacrifices would be made on behalf of the people – to atone for their sins and their failure to keep the law.
And ultimately, at the perfect time, he would send his Son in the flesh to be the perfect sacrifice for all sin (Galatians 4:4-5). Jesus obeyed the law and the commandments perfectly and never sinned. He was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The works of Israel (their attempts at keeping the law) couldn’t save them and neither can ours. It is only through believing and trusting in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior that we can be saved (Romans 10:9).
Though it is through grace that we are saved and not our works, it doesn’t excuse us from living a holy life (James 2:14-26). The apostle Peter reiterates Leviticus 11:44 when he says:
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’
1 Peter 1:14-16
Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf, but we are still commanded to live in a manner that is worthy. And though we, just like Israel, cannot do it on our own, thanks be to God that Jesus intercedes on our behalf and has made us his own.
Amen and Amen.
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