Nougat 31

What comes to mind when you hear, ‘I need to have a word with you.’? For me, it usually suggests something is coming that’s either unpleasant or of grave importance. What if YHWH, our Lord, and God is the author of that statement? Are we ready to put on sackcloth and ashes? Over the next couple of days, we’ll be focusing on the Ten Commandments. It’s my hope that we’ll hear God speaking with us in this season. Here’s Today’s Holy Nougat

‬‬Exodus 20:1 NLT

Then God gave the people all these instructions:” ‭‭

A Word to the Wise

God didn’t actually say, ‘I want to have a Word with you to the Children of Israel. The truth is, an invitation was extended to them to become God’s kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation by way of their lived obedience (see Exodus 19:5-6). On their acceptance of that invitation, God proposed a divine visitation to clarify expectations.

YHWH’s visit required special preparation because YHWH isn’t just any god. Rather, YHWH is our Creator, God Almighty, Elohim, the original Holy One, and being in God’s presence requires cleanliness in the inside and outside. In those days, that amounted to 3 days’ consecration.

That third day, amidst fire, lightning, smoke, and thunder, YHWH spoke. It was at that moment that God shared what was on God’s heart. The writer of the Pentateuch refers to them as ‘Words’. We often refer to them as the Ten Commandments. The New Living Translation, uses ‘instructions’, with a footnote that the Hebrew says ‘Words’.

Self-Check

– What are your views on the significance of the Ten Commandments?

– Have you ever thought of the Ten Commandments as Ten Words?

Application

Some would argue that it’s all semantics: Words, Commandments, or Instructions convey the same thing. Yet others would suggest that there are nuances in impact and expectation. (The definitions below are adapted from Oxford Languages via Google)

– A word, at its simplest state, is an element of speech or writing used to communicate with others . But a word is also a command or signal that sets something in motion.

– A command is an authoritative order, and a commandment adds the divine element to the definition, making it a divine directive.

– An instruction is an order or detailed information about how something should be done or operated.

Given the Oxford definitions, it is conceivable to see all three being used to describe what happened on that day. YHWH had a few words with the Children of Israel (no, not arguments, but instructions) defining their relationship and outlining God’s expectations. They were commands – God expected them to be obeyed by God’s covenant people. Additionally, they offered explanations of how they were to be followed.

In our day, we are also expected to adhere to these instructions if we understand ourselves as God’s covenant people, God’s holy nation – not as Children of Israel, but Children of God through Christ’s sacrifice. Our recognition that these words are not about regular relationships but about our covenant with God leads us to refer to them as Commandments.

As commandments, they capture all the nuances of words and instructions – with a sacred element. When we agree to obey them, we expect that failure to comply carries consequences. When we agree to obey the Commandments, we’ve consented for God to have a personal, individual relationship with us that begins with a few words with us – ten words in fact.

A Word to the Wise … let’s obey God’s commandments.

Assignment

Read ahead.

Read the Ten Commandments, and see how you measure up.

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May all we seek be found in Christ