Old Testament: Exo 20.1–6

To read the Bible in a year, read Exodus 19–21 on January 29, In the year of our Lord Christ 2023

By Don Ruhl 

God spoke the Ten Commandments in the presence of all Israel. First, he wanted Israel to know who he was and that they should not have any other gods: 

And God spoke all these words, saying: 

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

“You shall have no other gods before Me. 

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

– Exodus 20.1–6 

They needed to know of his exclusive and unique nature so that they would not follow other gods. There is no god like the God of Israel. He is the one, true and living God. Keeping that in their memory, they would continue to rely upon him for all that they needed for life. 

Questions: 

• Why do you think God first mentioned that he brought them out of Egypt? 
• Do you put anything before God in your mind? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com