
In Exodus 20, God does something He has never done before: He speaks His law audibly to an entire nation. No prophet, no intermediary at first, just God’s raw voice from Mount Sinai.
This chapter introduces the Ten Commandments, not as religious rules, but as:
- A covenant constitution for a nation
- God’s revealed nature in words
- A mirror of holiness and a boundary for relationship
The commandments are divided into two realms:
After God speaks, the mountain shakes, thunder rolls, trumpets sound, and Israel is terrified.
| Commandments 1–4 | Relationship with God (Worship, Reverence, Holiness) |
|---|---|
| Commandments 5–10 | Relationship with people (Honour, Purity, Integrity, Justice) |
“You speak to us, Moses, and we will listen. But let not God speak to us, or we will die.” Exodus 20:19
But Moses answers beautifully:
“Do not be afraid; God has come to prove you, that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Exodus 20:20
This is the balance of encounter:
Not fear to run away, but fear to avoid sin.
The Law of Love, Not Just Law of Stone
These commandments are not just legal codes, they are love expressed as structure.
God is saying: “If I will dwell among you, then your life must mirror My nature.”
“The first proof of loving God is obedience, not feelings, not singing, not titles.”
We do not keep the law to be saved, we are saved unto holiness.
Priesthood Births Government
God did not give the laws in Egypt, He waited until they came to the mountain of His presence.
Deliverance is not complete until it produces government (order).
Sinai is where priesthood (Exodus 19) becomes kingdom (Exodus 20).
God is not just Saviour, He is Lawgiver, Judge, and King.
Holiness is the Language of Intimacy
Israel said, “We’re afraid, Moses speak to God for us.”
Fear made them stand far off, but Moses drew near into the thick darkness where God was. (v.21)
God is not found in noise or convenience ; He is found in the sacred place, sometimes covered in holy darkness.
Declarations
- Lord, write Your laws on my heart, not just stone or screens.
- I love Your presence and I love Your boundaries.
- I will not stand far off; I draw near like Moses.
- I walk in holiness, not by force, but by covenant passion.
- My life honours God and treats people with dignity, purity, and truth in the name Jesus. Amen
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