Page 53 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

and some sense of what might be right or wrong. The law given to Israel simply makes clear in
words on papyrus and stone what had already been implanted in every human on earth.

In Genesis a variety of persons reflect an understanding of right and wrong similar to the Ten
Commandments. The understanding is not always clear, but the illustrations demonstrate a
knowledge of God’s law before Israel was given God’s law:

The first, Gen. 35:2: “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you.”
The second, Gen. 31:30: “Why did you steal my gods?”
The third, Gen. 24:3: “I want you to swear by the LORD.”
The fourth, Gen. 2:3: “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.”
The fifth, Gen. 27:41: “The days of mourning my father are near.”
The sixth, Gen. 4:9: “Where is your brother Abel.”
The seventh, Gen. 39:9: “How could I do such a wicked thing?”
The eighth, Gen. 44:4-7: “Why have you stolen my silver cup?”
The ninth: Gen. 39:17: “That Hebrew slave…came to me to make sport of me.”
The tenth: Gen. 12:18: “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?”
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YHWH’s relationship with Israel was to reflect his unique nature. The gods of the other nations
were quite different. The character of other gods was reflected in the societies of the people
who worshipped them. As YHWH brought Israel out of Egypt to himself, his desire was for them
to be a “treasured possession,” “a kingdom of priests,” and “a holy nation” (19:5-6). As they
obeyed his laws, they would increasingly reflect his nature and would stand out in distinction
from all the other nations.

The law begins with one’s relationship with God. He is to be
supreme, without any competitors in a person’s life (20:3). As he
is the exclusive object of our worship, no external or material
substitutes are allowed. Following him is the greatest good a
person can experience. Anything less brings out his keen desire
for our best. His jealousy is an emotion by which God is stirred up
and provoked against whatever hinders the enjoyment of that
which he loves and desires (20:4-6). Worship of God must
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include the words we speak, for our words express the true
values of our hearts (20:7). Worship of God must affect every
Fig. 31: Asherah, goddess of fertility aspect of life with the recognition of our dependence on him.
Our time belongs to him as does our energy (20:8-11).

The law continues with one’s relationship with other people. Parents are to be honored, prized,
and cared for (20:12). All life is sacred. Since every human is created in God’s image,
intentionally taking a life is like trying to kill God (20:13). Unlike the other nations, capital

54 Walter C. Kaiser, Toward Old Testament Ethics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983), 82.
55 Kaiser. Ethics. 86.

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