Why God Gave us the Law

 This article was first published in French at TPSG.

In the previous article, we witnessed the greatest birth of the Old Covenant, that of the nation of Israel in the Exodus. In the second half of the book of Exodus, we see how time stands still at the foot of Mount Sinai as God gives His holy law to His people.

 

The Law Given at the Feet of Sinai: Exodus 19-31

It’s important to understand that law is not merely a list of rules, even if it contains quite a few. A long list of dos and don'ts, after all, doesn't bring joy, does it? The Lord had a much higher purpose for His law. God designed it to show his people the proper way to live and serve him in order to enjoy fellowship with Him. 

 

Isn't it the same for us? God did not give us the Scriptures as a heavy burden to carry. Rather, His Word is a gift from our heavenly Father who manifests His love when he reveals Himself to us and shows us how to live in a way that glorifies Him.

 

Think of the sanitary laws: before this pandemic, perhaps they seemed a little harsh and archaic to us. But now that we see how easily diseases can spread, we understand God's wisdom in all the regulations about quarantining the sick and purifying infected houses and utensils.

 

The Gift of Salvation Precedes the Gift of the Law

In Exodus chapter 19, we see that God seals the adoption of the children of Israel by a covenant at Sinai. The rest of the book takes place there, at the foot of the holy mountain. And this is what is extraordinary, what takes your breath away: God delivers his people from slavery, God adopts his people, God makes a covenant with his people beforegiving them the Law! His salvation is unconditional and by his initiative! The only thing he required of them is the blood of the Lamb. It is only after this covenant in Exodus 19 that God gives His law in chapter 20.

 

What does this imply for us? Isn't it also true that God saved us by his initiative, unconditionally? Only after our conversion did he call us to holiness. For it was impossible for us to live lives holy enough to satisfy God by our own efforts. We needed a substitute, the Lamb of God, who would take God's judgment for us. And only after he had made us His children did he give us his Law and call us to a new life of obedience. 

 

The Ten Words

In chapter 20, God gives His people the 10 commandments. In Hebrew, they are called the Ten Words. To understand each other we use words. The first function of the Ten Commandments is a means of communication, so that God's people will know who this God is who has just saved them. That is why, as an introduction, Exodus 20:1 says, "God spoke all these words." It doesn't say, "God spoke all these laws/commandments." Its purpose was for Israel to know its Deliverer. Furthermore, the law isn’t about us. It begins with God. It is primarily the revelation of who he is. It is the way to know him, and to know how the people of God are to reflect his nature, character, and values.

 

The supreme purpose, then, of the book of Exodus, the Pentateuch, and all Scripture is to make God known. Once the "ten words" are given, God then expands their meaning by going into practical detail.

 

Social Legislation: Exodus 21-24

In chapters 21-24, we find a variety of moral laws relating to life in the community of faith. For example, the proper treatment of slaves, foreigners, and even criminals. And while some of these laws may seem mysterious to a modern reader, they were designed to protect the most vulnerable at a time when the danger was that each man would be a law unto himself. Thus, "an eye for an eye" was conceived as a mercy, to prevent the excessive use of force against the guilty party. The LORD thus introduces a social legislation all his own, which he will develop in the rest of the Pentateuch. 

 

Instructions for the Construction of the Tabernacle: Exodus 25-31

In chapters 25-31, God gives instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, as well as careful details about the garments that Aaron, the high priest, and his sons are to wear. How can we understand this in the light of the New Covenant?

 

Jesus: Our High Priest

Think of Aaron's priestly garments in Exodus 28: the breastpiece, the ephod, the robe, the coat of checker work, the turban, and the sash. In Hebrews 2:17 and 4:14, Jesus is called our High Priest. In these passages Jesus is compared to Aaron and his descendants. And the argument of these passages, and of the whole book of Hebrews, is that Jesus is far superior to Aaron and his descendants before him.

 

Think of the breastpiece of judgment, with its twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. It symbolizes how the high priest who wore it interceded before the Lord for the twelve tribes by carrying them close to his heart. Hebrews 7:25 states, regarding Jesus' role as high priest, that he ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus holds us close to His heart too!

 

Believers: A Royal Priesthood

Finally, having sought Christ above all else, we can then correctly see ourselves in this passage. In Exodus 19:6, the Lord calls the whole nation, not just the sons of Aaron, to be "a royal priesthood." This means that Israel was to represent the Lord to the nations and seek to bring them to Him. 1 Peter 2:9 uses these words from Exodus to describe the Church. So how can we apply them to us?  By recognizing that we, the Church, in the power of the Spirit, must also be a light to the nations. We must intercede for them as Christ intercedes for us.

 

To be continued...

In the last article of this series, we will discuss the downward spiral of God's people in the incident of the golden calf. We will also witness their deliverance from God's wrath via the intercession of God's chosen intermediary. And finally, a reconciled people will complete the construction of the tabernacle and the presence of the Lord will descend in a cloud of glory.