- CHAPTER 6 -
The Law of Moses

From the beginning, God had desired a people for Himself to be known as His and His alone. He created humanity for Himself, to love Him and be loved by Him. However, since we had sinned, we were separated from God. We sought to be independent and had received our independence. God was no longer our God. We no longer acknowledged or worshipped Him as God. And He no longer ruled over us as God. We no longer knew Him or His love. As such, evil had a foothold on humanity and reigned over the earth, so much so, that over 1600 years later, God “was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” (Genesis 6:6) God had created humanity for Himself. However, humanity lived for anything but God. Because of this, humanity was overrun with wickedness. And so, God destroyed the earth with a flood saving only a small family inside of a boat known as the ark.

Though humanity had sinned against God becoming His enemy rather than His lover, we were not beyond hope. If this were the case, then God would have destroyed humanity without allowing a single soul to live. Rather, God loved us and desired our love. He did not want death to be our end. And so, He devised a plan for our redemption that we may once again be known as His people called by His name. In this, we could be reconciled with God, cured of sin, and enjoy a newfound relationship with God lasting for all eternity. Before this could come, however, He had to prepare the way.

Before anyone could be saved, humanity need to learn several important lessons concerning our failed relationship with God. We needed to learn that God is God and we are not. No matter what we think or believe, God is the source of truth and life. We needed to learn that we have sinned against God. Before our relationship could be reconciled with God, we needed to see our sin and to know we are sinners. Lastly, we needed to learn that we are not what God intended for us to be. We need help. We need to be renewed.

God would prepare the way through a man named Abraham who would give birth to a nation of people called the Israelites. Through them, God would make Himself known. God would bless these people setting them aside as His own. They would be distinguished from the rest of the world and live under His authority and rule. Through them, God would demonstrate His awesome power and everlasting love.

God made an agreement with Abraham. “You will be the father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:4, 6-8) If you notice, in this agreement God promised to be Abraham’s God and His descendants after him. Up to this point, humanity had been independent of God. After this, God would set aside a people through Abraham that would be known as His people. The one and true God would be their God and they would be His people. (Exodus 6:7) They would be known as the Israelites having descended from Abraham’s grandson who was given the name Israel by God.

Over 400 years later, God would provide the terms of this agreement with Abraham through a prophet named Moses. Over the years, the people had come to live in the land of Egypt and had grown great in number. While there, the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites forcing them into hard labor. Hearing the prayers of the people, God responded by raising up a leader from them, a man named Moses, who led them out of Egypt. In their deliverance, God displayed His awesome power. God directed the people on a long route to the Red Sea while their enemy stormed behind them on chariots. The people were dismayed at the sight of the sea as it seemed like a dead end where they would soon meet their demise. There, God parted the waters so His people could cross. Once they were safe on the other side, the water rushed down vanquishing their enemies before their eyes. “And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” (Exodus 14:31)

Moses would then lead the people to Mt. Sinai where the Lord would give them the terms of His agreement. There He said to the people, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6) The people all agreed to obey God. And so, God then gave them His commandments to separate them out of the world as His own possession. These people would be known as God’s people so long as they kept His commandments.

Upon two stone tablets, God wrote Ten Commandments with His own finger. (Deuteronomy 9:10) They were as follows:

(1) You shall have no other gods before me.

(2) You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

(3) You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

(4)Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

(5) Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

(6) You shall not murder.

(7) You shall not commit adultery.

(8) You shall not steal.

(9) You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

(10) You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

(Exodus 20:3-17 & Deuteronomy 5:7-21)

The Ten Commandments are the terms of the agreement between God and the people. So long as the law was kept, they would remain in the covenant. The agreement is much like a marriage contract. If husband or wife commits adultery, the marriage contract is broken. The spouse is then given license to divorce on the grounds of unfaithfulness. Likewise, God made an agreement with His people. So long as they kept Him first, as their God, and worshipped Him alone, they would remain His people. However, if any man persisted in going his own way, not following God’s way, then Scripture says: “The Lord will never be willing to forgive him; his wrath and zeal will burn against that man. All the curses written in this book will fall upon him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven.” (Deuteronomy 29:19-20) Clearly stated: “If we disown him, he will also disown us.” (2 Timothy 2:12)

In addition to the Ten Commandments, God gave the people over 600 other laws that governed societal life and affairs. These included instructions on how to proceed when the law was violated. God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and so, He required the same of His people. When the law was broken, justice was to be done. If a person had sinned against their fellow man, they were required to make amends accordingly. “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Deuteronomy 19:21) The people were to act justly and judge fairly. “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15)

If a person broke one of the Ten Commandments, they had sinned against God. As such, they had to make restitution with God to make peace. Sin could not be overlooked. This was a most serious offense and for justice to be served, a penalty must be paid. Only when the penalty was paid could justice be done and forgiveness granted. As such, atonement was required for sin. Very specific regulations pertaining to atonement were established in the law (See the book of Leviticus for all the regulations). The law stated “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11) By pouring out the blood of an animal, the sinner’s blood did not need to be spilt. The sinner’s life was spared while the animal was killed in their place. The sin was transferred from the sinner to the animal causing the penalty of sin to be paid by the animal. When this was accomplished, a sacrifice was made and the person could then be forgiven.

The Law Is In All

Though the Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites, the requirements of the law are written on the hearts of all people. (Romans 2:15) Every person has a conscience that aids them in knowing right from wrong. Due to this, the laws of many societies during the time of the Israelites and even in our day resemble the Ten Commandments. God wasn’t demanding something new from His people. Humanity was created in the image of God and the Ten Commandments are a shadow of the image of God. (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1) The law was carved into our being from the beginning. Sin distorted the image of God humanity bore, but it did not remove it. And so, we feel the weight of wrongdoing in the form of guilt.

This means the law wasn’t written for the Israelites alone, but for all people. Being that we have these laws written within us, we feel shame when we break them. Even if we are convinced in our mind that a certain action may be right, our feelings still weigh us down with grief. Upon witnessing or doing wrong, our conscience will lay heavy on our hearts. Though, it is true the voice of our conscience fades away as we continue in sin. The more we sin, the less shame we have. As such, something that may have once brought immense guilt may now not bring any guilt at all. Even still, we have a conscience within us that proves we know the law of God inherently.

Purpose of the Law

The law served several important purposes that apply to all people. Let us review them.

1) The law was given for the good of the people.

The intention of God in giving the law was for the good of the people. Ezekiel 20:11 says, “I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.” God gave the laws to the people so that they might live life to the fullest. Laws are given to protect and promote life. For instance, a seat-belt law has been issued to ensure people will be safe during a car accident. For years, there was no law and people often died during car accidents. They could have lived, if they had been wearing one. The Ten Commandments were given by the creator of all things. He knew what would give the people the greatest life, and so He made these laws clear by writing them down. This is true even to this day. If we abide by these laws, we will find a better and richer life.

2) By writing the law, the Word of God was clearly stated apart from the human soul.

Though we have a conscience, it sometimes becomes faded against the voice of our own selfish desires and that of the Devil. The Israelites would not have to rely upon their feelings or their own wisdom to discern right from wrong. The Word of God was written on stone and clearly stated. God had spoken. If they were tempted, they could say, “But it is written...” If their fellow Israelites had sinned, they could say, “God has said,” without relying on their own authority.

3) The law established the identity of the people.

God said to the Israelite people, “Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. But I said to you, ‘You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations. You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those which I have set apart as unclean for you. You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.” (Leviticus 20:22-26)

God had set His people apart from other nations. These were His people and they should reflect His image. The law established what they should reflect. They should be doing the things outlined in the law. If they were not, then clearly they were not being identified with God. They were turning their back away from Him and His ways. By keeping the law, they clearly established themselves as God’s people as they resembled Him.

God created humanity in His image. The law provided a shadowed silhouette of that image. Therefore, the law communicates clearly what we have fallen from. If we truly reflect the image of God as we should, then these laws will come natural to us. We will behave in accord with these laws without restraint or struggle. For example, it is the nature of a dog to bark. If you established a law that said, “Dogs should not meow,” then every dog would obey naturally. However, if a dog was crippled in such a way that cause it to meow, then keeping the above command would be burdensome. Since we have fallen, these laws present a huge dilemma for us. The laws are contrary to human nature. It is not our nature to obey them or keep them. Because of this, the laws feel oppressive and we are hindered by fear of punishment.

However, this is not the way it should be. The law should describe who we are and not dictate what we do. For example, a dog should not be forced into barking. Rather, the dog should be identified by its bark. A dog barks and this is how we know it is a dog. Likewise, humans should love. There shouldn’t be laws forcing humans to love one another. We should already love one another and be identified by our love. We are God’s people because we love. That is what God’s people do because that is who God is.

4) The law was made for sinners. (1 Timothy 1:9)

Laws are created and implemented because people do things they should or should not be doing. In other words, laws are made for lawbreakers. This is true even of the Ten Commandments. God did not write the Moral law on the day Adam was created. There was no need at that time. Adam was created in the image of God and he did what was right until the fall. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, God did not write out the law because Adam and Eve were no longer His. They had fallen away from God. Rather, God provided the law for His people who He delivered out of Egypt after they had shown themselves sinful by disobeying His command.

After their deliverance from Egypt, God lead the Israelite people into the Desert of Sin where He tested them. The people were hungry and started complaining. In Egypt they ate all the food they wanted. In the desert, they had nothing. And so, God sent down manna, bread from Heaven, for the people to eat. In the morning, when the dew was gone, think flakes like frost appeared on the ground. He commanded the people: “Each one is to gather as much as he needs. No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, the people did not listen and the next morning it was full of maggots and began to smell. The people had shown themselves sinful by not keeping to God’s Word. (Exodus 16) Therefore, shortly thereafter God gave them the law.

In the United States, laws are established in the same way. A law is presented before congress because someone has done something wrong. However, if people would do what is right, there would be no need for laws. Speed limits exemplify this. If people drove responsibly, then there would be no need for speed limits. However, because people do not drive conscientiously, speed limits have been set into place to establish order and restrain wrong behavior.

5) The law makes sin known.

“I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’“ (Romans 7:7)

Within us, we have a conscience that makes us aware of wrongdoing. We may be aware of guilt, but do not fully understand the crime. As such, the law communicates the depth of our sin, to whom we have sinned, and how we have sinned. The law clarifies wrongdoing. We may know clearly whether or not we have sinned against God by the letter of the law. When faced with the law, we are no longer ignorant of our sin.

6) The law makes us conscious of sin. (Romans 3:20)

Moses told the Israelites to tell future generations: “And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:25) Many have misunderstood what Moses was saying and have thought, ‘if I can keep all the laws, that will make me righteous.’ The key difference between this thought and Moses’ statement is the word “make.” Being that we have fallen, we are sinners. This means we need to be remade. We need to change from being a sinner and to being righteous. The law, however, cannot change a person. The law has no effect on the inside of a person. It simply controls the external behavior. No matter how many laws I obey, this does not change my heart. In the above Scripture, Moses was trying to establish that if a person has never broke a single law they would be a righteous person, not because they were “made” righteous, but because they were never a sinner to begin with.

This presents a problem for us, however, as the bible clearly indicates “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10) It also says, “Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” (Job 4:17) God, being the creator of all things, has established what righteousness is. As such, how can a creature created by God ever be more righteous than God? This is a contradiction in terms. Jesus later affirms this by saying only God is good. (Mark 10:18) Humanity has been separated from God. Who can possibly be righteous apart from God? No one. Without God, we cannot be righteous.

Many people dangerously think they can earn God’s favor by keeping the laws. They think that every good deed rectifies every bad deed causing a balance. However, the Scriptures say: “For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.” (Isaiah 59:12-13) We have not sinned against a mortal man, but the immortal God. The debt of our guilt has an infinite weight. What deed could we ever do to pay such a debt? Is there a deed with eternal implications? That is why our “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”. (Isaiah 64:6) We have been stained while God is Holy. There is nothing we can give Him to make amends for the damage we have done. Everything we have to offer is stained with sin.

To illustrate, let’s say a friend contracts a rare skin disease that infects everything he touches. This friend, having accidently hurt your feelings, wants to make things right. So the friend makes you a wonderful dinner with all sorts of tasty food. The smell of the food causes your stomach to growl. However, you know that you cannot eat it. The food has been infected by the skin disease. It doesn’t matter what your friend does or how good it is, the final product is infected by the disease.

Scripture says, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10) The problem we incur is not that we break laws and need to make right a single wrong. The problem we have is we ourselves are wrong. It is not that we commit sins; it is that we are sinners. No good deed or righteous act will ever change us. We have a terrible disease that needs to be cured. Once it has been cured, then we can give pleasing gifts to God.

The law makes us conscious of this state and condition. We might be inclined to think, “I am a good person. I am righteous.” We base this upon our own concept of what is right or wrong. According to our earthly standards, we are a good person. However, when we are faced with the Ten Commandments, we discover something different. We are sinners. Because of this, we break God’s law.

7) The law makes us accountable to God. (Romans 3:19)

Without the law, how could we be judged for our deeds? The law makes us accountable for our actions. In our freedom, God has given us responsibility. The laws hold us accountable so that we can be judged accordingly.

This is true of every law. When a law is broken, the lawbreaker is taken before a judge who then decides how to bring justice. Without the law, there is no way to hold a person accountable for their misdeeds. A person may commit a crime, and then say, “Where does it say that is wrong?” By giving the law, the whole world is held accountable before God for the deeds committed. By this, we will be judged. God has set aside a day to judge all people every where for the deeds committed in the body. On that day, everyone will have to give an account for way they have lived. (Isaiah 66:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

8) The law leads us to God. (Galatians 3:24)

God’s purpose in giving the law was not to burden, oppress, or control the people. Because of sin within us, the law of God is burdensome and oppressive. We do not want to obey it because it is contrary to our nature. However, this was not God’s purpose.

The law was given for our benefit that we might recognize sin. The law communicates effectively that something is wrong with us and tells us what is wrong. Within our hearts, we feel the absence of God. We feel emptiness and loneliness. The law tells us that God is missing because we have sinned against Him. When we realize this, it opens a door for us to respond. God’s desire is that we would see our sin and turn back to Him in repentance. The law, therefore, was given to lead us to God that He might be able to help us.

The law should make one thing very clear to us: we need help. We are sinful, and therefore, we are displeasing to God. We need to be set free from sin and the law. We need to be changed. We need new life. We need a cure for the terrible disease of sin that plagues the depth of the human soul.

9) The law was given to be fulfilled.

Laws are made to be kept, not broken. By keeping the law, things are kept right. God’s desire is that all things are kept right and good. Scriptures says that God loves righteousness and justice. (Psalms 33:5) God loves His people and He knows what is best for them. He loves to see His people flourish and prosper. However, they cannot unless the law is fulfilled. The law is for their good.

God did not create the law to control the people. His ultimate goal was not simply obedience. If God wanted everyone to obey Him, then He could easily force this. He could oppress people through fear and punishment. Or, He could simply force the people by taking full control of their bodies. Certainly, an all-powerful God could force people into submission. As shown in the previous chapter, however, God’s purpose for humanity is not servitude. Rather, God created humanity to reflect His image—He created us for love. Obedience to the law only produces actions; it does not tap into the desires of the heart. God’s purpose is not simply that we obey, but that we fulfill His Word within our lives.

In the law, God spoke. His Word was sent forth that it might be fulfilled. God did not speak meaningless or empty words. His Word is full of meaning and importance essential to the good of all things. His Word is true and absolute. Fulfillment of the law comes when the righteous requirements of the law are met within us and we live out the full meaning of the law within our lives. In other words, we don’t just obey the law by doing what it requires, we live out the full meaning of the law by doing more than it requires. The full meaning of the law is summed up in two statements: (1) Love God and (2) Love others. If we fulfill the law, then we will live a life of true love. We will not be bound to the requirements of the law living a life of selfishness. In other words, we will not obey the law because we are afraid of being punished or because we are trying to earn a reward. Rather, we will obey the law because it is natural for us. We live a life of love and naturally do what the law requires and more. We will have fulfilled it.

To illustrate, a slave is bound to his master. Slaves work hard at obeying their masters because they live in fear and reward. They try not to break any rules because they fear punishment. They go above and beyond because they want to earn a reward for good behavior. However, a slave will never go above and beyond themselves. They are always concerned about what will happen to them or what they will get in return. Likewise, a wife is bound to her husband in love. A wife who loves her husband works hard at listening to him and pleasing him. She tries not to upset him, not because she fears him, but because she loves him and want to give him her best. A loving wife goes above and beyond because she belongs to her husband. Her desire is not to gain anything, but to give of herself so her husband will be blessed. The difference between a slave and wife comes during times of trial. If the master falls and breaks his leg, the slave will run away trying to escape. If the husband falls, the wife will stick by his side even if it means lying in the mud and holding his leg straight for many hours in an awkward position.

Fulfillment of the law comes when we obey the law, not because we have to obey, but because we want to obey. In this, we enjoy obeying the law and find delight in it. In this way, we are acting, not under oppression, but in love.

However, because of sin we have encountered a dilemma. Sin has made us slaves to the law. We are sinful and have broken the law. Therefore, when we encounter the law, we live in fear of what it requires. The law says, “Those who break the law must be punished.” We deserve to be punished. And so, every time we attempt to obey the law, we do so not in love, but because we fear punishment. Our intentions are tainted with selfishness. We cannot do what the law requires, to love God and our neighbor, because when we try, we do so with the wrong motives. We love, not because we truly love, but because we are forced to do so in fear and selfish gain.

Only a person without sin could possible meet and fulfill the requirements of the law. The requirements of the law would be met. They would not be bound by what the law requires. Rather, they would be free to live in the full measure of love. For sinners, our only hope is to have such a person fulfill the law on our behalf and set us free.

To illustrate, let’s say you are captured and drug away into slavery in a foreign land. In that foreign land, you are forced into hard labor. Everyday, you must work hard to earn your keep. You are not free to live out the customs of your homeland. You try many times to escape only to be caught and chained down again by the guards. You have no way out, unless someone from home comes to rescue you.

Thankfully, the King of Heaven has come to earth to rescue you from this foreign land. God has sent a cure for sin so that you might live freely in the fullness of love. He wants to set you free from the power of sin.