First Commandment/Statement

Question: The first commandments is “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me”. God seems to preface this command with a statement. Why not just give us the command straight?

Answer: The New Testament explains that “Many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

The children of Israel had been released from slavery in Egypt but they may not have realized that they were in great danger of losing their newly found freedom.

“Have no other gods before me” (Exod 20:3). There were lots of other gods “out there” that would dearly love to snap up this liberated young nation, they will make all sorts of promises about freedom, but what they offer as freedom turns out to be slavery. Yahweh has shown that he is the only God who truly cares about the people’s freedom by setting them free from slavery in Egypt—Moses did not make the first move, God approached Moses and began the process. God cares that we are free, it is the way we are meant to live. 

When we put God first we live in freedom, for he truly desires that we are free: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1).

The earth is full of voices that have gone out into the world, everywhere we go there seems to be enticing arguments just waiting to pull us in. Worldly judgements, human points of view, endless speculations. The child of God will tread safely if we seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness—let the world say what they want, our calling is to focus our attention on what God is saying. 

So each day, we take time to listen among all the din, noise and clatter of this fallen world to the “still small voice”. Because it’s the Lord’s voice that will guide us safely through.

We keep our lamps burning and are dressed ready for service, not being drawn into the bickering, brawling and brouhaha this world offers, but seeking he who “sits enthroned above the circle of the earth” (Isa 40:22). 

For Christ has been raised above this raging sea of worldly opinion, and is seated at the right had of the Father: “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named” (Eph 1:21).

And when we seek him we find ourselves a place of quiet rest, unpolluted green pastures where he restores our souls, he leads us in paths of righteousness.

The false prophets may clamour, and the foul spirits may do their best to agitate, and men of this earth may strive as they will, but “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (Heb 4:9).

God cares about our freedom, so he explains his actions to help us see how much he cares: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery..."

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1).