Exodus
19: 1-7
Exodus
20:1-17
God said to the people of Israel:
‘You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and
brought you to me.’ [the Message]
this part of scripture is sometimes
known as : “'historiography', that is,
the remembered history of the Israelite people which is crucial to their
identity as the people of God.” [i]
the exodus is a pivotal story, a
foundational story for the people of Israel. The people had been in slavery.
Just three months before the section we heard this morning, the people of
Israel left Egypt. Already in those first three months there were complaints to
Moses, why did you bring us out here to die? there is no water, there is no food - yet God provided water and food for them.
Many times in the Bible the people
of Israel are reminded that God bought them safely out of Egypt. The language
is not of bringing Israel out of Egypt or bringing to a new land, but bringing
the people to God. [ii]
God rescued the people of Israel so
they could be in relationship with God.
The last two Sundays John McKinnon
has mentioned that God was calling the people of Israel to be different to the
nations around them. Still in chapter 19 the people are told if you keep my covenant you will be my treasured possession. All
of creation is God's but God has chosen these people to be a holy nation, a
nation that lives differently, a nation that lives as God's people
We are Gods treasured people. How do
we live out in that covenant
relationship?
We turn now to chapter 20 and the 10
commandments. Of course it wasn't called the 10 commandments, that is a name
that has been given to this section of the text. When the text when the story
was told and the text written down there weren't any headings.
A lot has been written and spoken
about the 10 commandments. I've had conversations with people at times who have
thought that they could tick each one of these commandments off; I have even
had people tell me that they can tick every one of these commandments off,
therefore they are a good person; and of course those people who can't tick
them off are bad people.
Firstly I don't think anyone can
tick all of these commandments of as having kept all of these rules.
Secondly I don't think they are
rules that you can use to decide of your are ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
These two sections of exodus remind
us again that God brings us into relationship, then makes a claim on our lives. Reminds me of the passage from 1
John that we read it baptisms: we love because God first loved us.
God establishes a relationship with
us, a relationship that brings us out of slavery, slavery in Egypt, slavery to
sin, slavery to fear,…. We are all aware of places in our lives where we have
been, and in many cases, still are in bondage. God establishes a relationship
with us, a relationship that brings us out of slavery.
The 10 commandments, the law that
God gives to the people of Israel, are not about how good I can be. They are
not about a pathway to relationship with God, God has already established a
relationship with us.
These commandments in many ways are
not for us. They are for our neighbour, so our neighbour can with the best life
possible. You see God loves all of creation, all people. When we are in a
relationship with God, when we live in covenant with God, we are God’s
treasured possession. But God wants all people and all of creation to live a
full life, and gives the law, so that all people can live.
The good news for my neighbour is
that God loves them so much that God tells me not to steal from my neighbour, cheat my neighbour,
kill my neighbour, or take their family from them. And the good news for me, is
that God loves me so much that God calls my neighbour not to kill me, or steal
from me, or cheat me.
According to the book of exodus,
these laws were given just three months after the people came out of slavery in
Egypt. Imagine what it was like for these people who for generations had been
enslaved. The people who had come out of Egypt needed to remember, to relearn
what it means to live as free people.
As people created by God, redeemed
by Jesus, and sanctified by the holy spirit, we are free.
Free, not so we can dominate others,
but so we can work for their freedom.
Free, not so we can take more than
we need, but so we can ensure all people, and all of creation is provided for.
Free, not so we can make slaves of others,
but so we can respect all people. [iii]
With
freedom comes responsibility,
How do we
live with the freedom God offers us?
what stops
us living into that freedom?
[followed by a prayer by Rachael Keefe
http://rachaelkeefe.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/praying-the-ten-commandments/
[ii] Brent A. Strawn
http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2221
[iii]
Rolf Jacobsen, working preacher
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