The Ten Commandments

 

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20

^{Exodus 20:19 “}And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.²⁰ And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”

     The terrible two’s?  Well, we’ve all been through them.  And what are we to learn when we exhibit our wills in a room of controls?  Our way is not the best way. Bend it, break it, shove it back.  We understand others are bigger.  Corporal punishment in moderation warms our butts when little fingers touch the stove.  If we do not quickly learn, let us learn through pain.  Not wanting to wait for physics to teach the lesson, Johhny under the watchful eye of mom pulls him aside about sharp sticks.

     Fear of God.  Is this such a naughty word?  Israelite Jews in their nature were not different than 2024 Gentiles born out of spiritual wedlock.  We need.

     We need someone to slap our hands.  Sister Mary come with a rod.  Crack the knuckles.  We learn fear, fear of repercussion.  There is an armored echo for our actions, and he dons a joisting spear.  God says we will not escape.  It is better we learn this axiom here at a young age before we hit His throne of judgement.

     So is our ministry.  We reassure little ones. Someone is watching and He is not always happy.  In fact, He gets perturbed at times.  Reigning in mercy with grace, He becomes the peanut butter and jelly God.  Milk with toast and our diet fails to build our muscles.  God grabs the T-bone and shoves it in our mouths.  He commands us to eat with discretion.  Chew the meat and throw the bone to the dog.

^{Hebrews 5:13  “}For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.¹⁴ But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

     Do we forget God calls Himself Father?  We are to understand His correcting hand.

^{Proverbs 3:12 “}For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

^{Hebrews 12:11 “}Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

     I have been corrected.  I stand on the other side of disciplines’ mountain.  As in any relationship, I’ve learned what ticks Him off in a sense.  I have learned fear.  My God’s hand I do not call as if He is bluffing.  All spades He lays when I have drawn the blood of hearts letting from those He loves.  He tells me straight up and threatens to throw the proverbial millstone about my neck if little ones are bruised.  I have learned to shape up or ship out.  This is the God I know.

     The Israelites said, “Owee! Too much to stand.”  His direct voice freaked them.  As it would today, Jesus unveiled would kick us off our horse like Saul.  Hence, He uses a gloved hand for our benefit.  He seeks to bend not break.  Master craftsman knows the wood.  He discerns in foreknowledge before our souls turn to wormwood under His new course of action.

     I write this in solemness.  In quietness of correction, we learn of our Father’s true nature.  In the vulnerability of smallness before His throne, we fear a heavy hand.  Never have I know Him to be too much.  No heavenly DHS needing being called.  The marks He leaves do not last.  Suffering them remind us of Someone bigger.

     A good whipping cleans the ears of wax.  Pain clarifies the butter we have vainly shoved in our orifices after the burn.  Our salve does not match His oil.  When we have touched the stove of life, He comes to heal.