Hope Alliance Bethlehem

After giving the law, God enacts a covenant with his people. He will lead them and defeat their enemies, but they must listen and obey his voice, staying true to him.  A sacrifice is made and the blood marks not only the altar, but the people as well. Then God descends to the mountain. Though the Israelites would fail to keep this covenant, the prophets looked forward to a new covenant, no longer written on stone but instead on human hearts. Jesus descended from heaven to initiate this new covenant.

The Covenant Code of Exodus is a series of laws and societal expectations that flow out of the Ten Commandments into the context of Israel forming as a nation. Through them we can see God's intent that his people live their lives on the basis of their identity as his rescued people, reconnected to their original purpose of worship and bearing his image within creation. This is our same purpose. And we need to constantly be thinking about how we embody that contextually in our world today.

To walk with Jesus is necessarily to walk in community. The Bible portrays community as a state of togetherness - regular proximity - and intentionally meeting each others needs.  The blessing of community only happens when we individually commit ourselves to the centrality of the gospel, partnering in God's mission, breaking bread, and prayer.

To walk in the light means to walk in purity and truth. Not only does sin separate us from God, but so too does deceit. When we deceive ourselves about our brokenness and faithfulness, we distance ourselves from God. Confession is a gracious gift that allows us to be reentered in the gospel and reconnected to God. Obedience allows us to walk and live where God is already walking and residing.

Everyone is looking for the full life. Jesus said it is only found in knowing God. And that the only way to God is through him. For all those who are weary and burdened from trying to find a full life on their own, Jesus calls us to be yoked to him and experience life the way it was meant to be lived - in connection with God. Then you will find true rest for your soul.

Easter is at its core an announcement of new creation in and through Jesus. It is also an invitation for us to join him and embrace our true identity. The old (past) is gone, the new is here!

To truly understand the Ten Commandments, we have to see them in the context of covenant and creation. In fact, at their core, they are an invitation by God for his people to reassume their identity they were created for - worshippers and image bearers to the world. This is why Jesus would later summarize the law in two big ideas: love God and love your neighbor. And at the center of this call to true identity is heart transformation, not simply external obedience.

As Israel finally makes it to Mt. Sinai, God reasserts the covenant to them. They will be his special possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Accepting this covenant, the people are consecrated and cleansed and come to the foot of the mountain to be joined to God - a wedding betrothal. However, the need for cleansing can only be fully undone with an even greater act of covenant grace by God. It is Jesus who brings the ultimate union and closeness to God.

Almost to Sinai, Israel is attacked by the Amalekites. While Joshua leads the battle on the field, Moses lifts his staff on the hill. The battle is fought in the valley, but won on the hill. So too in our lives as we battle sin and evil, we are called to get dirty and fight, even while the victory is ultimately won by Jesus on the ultimate hill. We fight not for victory, but from victory. And like the Israelites, we should be regularly collecting memorials and building altars. 

Jethro comes to an overwhelmed Moses with some practical and important advice. Raise up and equip leaders who can carry the ministry with you. But that alone is simply an organizational strategy. Leaders can't simply trust in their talents or their capacity. They need the power of the Spirit to help guide the people of God to embrace his covenant and find transformation. And even then the grace of God is sufficient for all our failings as leaders.