Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31
Moses reminded the people that God had made a covenant with them at Mt. Horeb. That was when Moses had fled Egypt and was alone on the mountain. God spoke from the bush and told Moses that He was ready to deliver his people out of Egypt and take them to a land flowing with mild and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and the Jebusites (Exodus 3).
God was speaking again with fire to the people on Mt. Sinai and he told them that it was not to their fathers but to them he was giving his laws.
He told them that he was the Lord, their God and it was him who brought them out of Egypt. They were to not have any other god but him. They were not to make any idols or images of created things and worship him. One day he would send his image down to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. They were not to misuse his name. They were always to honor the Sabbath and set it apart as a holy day. It would one day represent their millennial rest. They were to remember that they were once a slave but God delivered them out of Egypt with his powerful hand. They were to always honor their natural and spiritual forefathers who went before them. They were not to murder, commit adultery, steal, or give false evidence against each other, They were not to covet what their brothers had.
When the people heard the voice of God they were afraid and asked Moses to tell God to speak to him because it scared them too much. God was actually pleased that they had a fear of him because he knew that if they feared him, they would obey his commandments. He also knew that they wouldn’t always fear him or keep his commandments. God sent the people back to their tents and gave Moses the rest of the commandments. He warned Moses to tell them not to forget His commandments when they entered into their promised land but to diligently teach their children and to recount the story of the exodus from Egypt and the mighty miracles the Lord did for them.
In Luke, it is important that we remember what Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 to understand John’s question. God had revealed to John that Jesus was the Messiah when he baptized him and he saw the Holy Spirit descend on him like a dove. But, John was in prison and Jesus had said that one of his reasons for coming was to proclaim freedom to the imprisoned. Isaiah said that this would be the sign of the Messiah. John, who was Jesus’ “Isaiah” was in prison and Jesus had not delivered him from prison. He sent the question of whether he was the one they were looking for because he didn’t understand why Jesus had not come to help him.
Jesus’ response to John’s question was to look at the things he had done: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers and cleansed and the deaf hear. He added, and blessed is anyone who is not offended in me. He knew that John was offended and he wanted him to concentrate on what he WAS doing and not in what he was NOT doing. What a lesson to us! We might not understand what why what we are going through is lasting so long or why God hasn’t chosen to deliver us when we know he can, but God has a bigger plan and it is his best. John had fulfilled his plan to usher in the Messiah and his reward in heaven was going to be great. His promotion would come earlier than most but it would be worth it.
Lord, help us to remember that your ways are always best and your plan is perfect!
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