Exodus chapter 20

EXODUS

 CHAPTER

 20

1. Then God spoke all these words:

(Exodus chapter 20)

According to Mr Devain Ajit Pawar Ajit Pawar who is the author of this chapter and with whom I totally agree, God speaks through all of us. He is present inside all of us and speaks by means of all of us, even though he may not speak directly, God speaks by means of every day life experiences. Each day He teaches us something new.

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

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 2)

Unlike the Devil, God never hides his identity. He reveals and manifests Himself to us. Unlike humans God is free from sin. On the other hand as humans we are always prone to sin against the will of God. Even though we consider ourselves as being free and not slaves in some way or another we are still bound by our sins and our sinful self. However just as God freed Moses and His chosen people from the bondage of Egypt God has given us His grace by means of the sacraments of liberation in order to free us from slavery of our sins. Every time we confess our sins God liberates us from the clutches of evil, forgives us and bestows on us His grace and blessings that is the power to stand up again and keep on walking in His steps.

3. you shall have no other gods before me.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 3)

God made it clear that there is only one God and that all of us are to agree that God is our heavenly father who lovingly looks upon us. He has the sole role of 'Master Creator'. In God as in humans there are present these dual roles, the creative and the destructive. For instance when we eat food we are destroying it in order to obtain the nutrients and vitamins needed to keep the body in good condition.


4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 4)


God loves us so much that he wants to be the only God in our lives and is not ready to take second place to any body or any thing, whether pop star, foot ball fan, money other religions, luck by chance or many others. God wants us to be free from false beliefs that promise us a false means of salvation or hopes or riches as in the case of the practise of black magic called voo doo or fortune telling. Although such sources have a degree of power, they are no match against God, however if we meddle with such practise we can end up in series trouble both on a spiritual, psychological and even social level as in the case of a demonic possession.

5. You shall not bow down to them, or worship them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 5)

God never wants us to bow down before the forces of evil in adoration or praise. However many practise such as foot worship and female domination is practised. During such negative practise, the aim of worship is shifted from the creator on to the created. Without doubt the devil plays a significant role in persuading, such people to humiliate the human body, that God made holy when taking the human form in order to save us from eternal damnation.

6. but showing steadfast love to the thousand generation of those who love me, and keep my commandments.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 6)


God loves us so much that he considers it as being such a negative act that of giving God second or third place in our lives in order to give worship to other gods. This is such a serious sin that it has long term repercussions. We are therefore to pray to God for forgiveness not only for our sins but even of those of our predecessors, of which we may be still experiencing the negative consequences of their negative actions. In practise their exist conditions and situations where the patients or clients are still experiencing the negative consequences of parents or even significant others, such as negative actions having to do with the supernatural such as occult, forms of abuse and many other negative practise. However although we may greatly sin against God. he always loves us and is always happy to see us go against our negative ways in order to follow His holy words, ways and most of all His commandments. 

7. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses  his name.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 7)


As emphasised by God misusing the name of God as in swearing is strictly unacceptable and is not to be practised under any circumstance even if we are really angry at each other. We are to remember that the name of God is Holy because its owner is Holy and therefore we are to treat it and refer to it in adoration love and respect.

8. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9. Six days you shall labour, and do all your work. 10. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work- you, your son, or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock or the alien resident in your towns. 

(Exodus chapter 20 verses 8 to 10)


In order for us to never forget the day of our salvation God wanted us to keep this days as being holy. Therefore as a rule no work is to be carried out on such days. However although God mentioned all days, He would not consider people in hospital such as nurses and doctors who are on shifts and even split shifts to stop giving their service or even people who manage power stations and airports etc or even police forces.

11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day: therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 11)

God cares for us so much that he gave us Sunday that is a day for rest both on a spiritual level and also on a physical and psychological level. During the week of six days we are to do our duty to man and to God in work however  on a Sunday we take our deserved rest. Therefore we are to respect and glorify God and the special day that He has given us

12 Honour your father and your mother:so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 12)


God wants us to give honour to our biological parents, however in some cases some of us complain of our childhood and our upbringing. Some of us may have lived a living hell and are still enduring the negative consequences of such a negative childhood. However God has given us our parents for a particular purpose and we are to accept them as being chosen for us according to God's infinite wisdom. We may not understand why some of them are abusers or alcoholics or workaholics however what we can understand is that God has made a perfect plan for us and part of that plan is our having such parents. Therefore in such respect we are to give honour and praise to God for giving us such parents. 

13 You shall not murder.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 13)


When God said "You shall not murder" He meant what He said and even today the meaning is the same. Do not murder does not make an exception for crime of passion or even abortion or euthanasia or simply giving a person the cold shoulder by playing the silent game as if the other person is not present at all. God was clear when giving us this commandment. Under no circumstances a human is to take the life of another human not even in wars or death penalty or capital punishment. Our life is a gift from God. He has given it to us ,and only \he has the right to take it back again.


14. You shall not commit adultery.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 14)


During our times adultery is being widely practised, we have become an adulterous society, some may say that one does not have an extra marital relationship, but if you love your work more than you love your wife and family and aim to spend more time at work than at home, that is also an  extra marital relationship. On the other hand those of us, who prefer engaging in masturbation than having pure and sincere intercourse with their wives are also being adulterous without being adult in their actions. When we abuse of our love we become like children who are at a certain age irresponsible. During such adulterous moments we are completely stripped off the God given dignity of being called adults.

 15. You shall not steal.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 15)


Stealing somebody else's property is always considered as being a negative act that merits condemnation, even though some may say that stealing in order to survive is not. However stealing is always considered as being a negative act in itself. God always provides us with all that we need therefore we do not need to steal other people's property, wives, husbands, promotions at the place of work and even more. Taking a persons life is also stealing a person of his life, therefore we are to remain aware of our selves so that we are protected by the grace of God from committing such negative acts.

16. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 16)


 God is asking us to always say the truth in our witness against our neighbour. If I am working on a product or being part of a work force that is producing a product that will have negative side effects on humanity it is my obligation to speak the truth and expose my employer even if this means losing my job and in turn causing my colleagues to become unemployed.

There are moments when we try to come out clean from a situation by placing the blame on others however this is not a solution to the problem. It will only be a quick fix solution, which is certainly not justified. As a consequence other people may endure negative consequences because of our having been untrue in our witness. There are those who have been falsely accused of having committed acts of murder or abuse and have spent the prime time of their lives in prison instead of with their families. This time has been unjustly denied of them.

17 You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or any thing that belongs to your neighbour.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 17)



On reflecting verse 17 has many ramifications. One may attempt to make a claim on a person's house property or even ones wife, if the person in question does not make the payment in time or even satisfy the conditions of a business contract that in itself may not be totally legal. As in the case of usury or drug dealing one may like or fancy the property of another and chose it as payment in return if the recipient does not pay or deliver in time. On knowing well the shortcomings of the recipient one may abuse of the situation and require that the property will be used as payment.

18. When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, 19, and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen: but do not let God speak to us, or we will die."20. Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you, and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin".

(Exodus chapter 20 verses 18 to 20)

Many people who make an experience of  God by means of a  vision are terrified even though we know God as being a caring and loving God who is also our loving father. We might fear Him because as humans we are prone to sin and that makes us afraid of that day when we appear before God and are compelled to render an account of our lives and being open to God's just judgement.

On the request of Mr.David Hur I am sharing this video clip that reflects our reasons for remaining distant from God



        

21. Then the people stood at a distance, off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

(Exodus chapter 20 verse 21)


Those of us who have a strong relationship with God have no need to fear God. They love God so much that they are ready to do anything for him, even if it means going in to the darkness of the unknown as in giving their lives as in the consecrated life which even secular people can do, without the need of becoming a priest. When making the leap of faith in our life it is accepting to plunge into the darkness of mystery with the faith that in that darkness God is going to meet us at the other end of the tunnel or mountain top as in the case of Moses.

22. The LORD said to Moses, This you shall say to the Israelites, You have seen for yourselves that I spoke with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves  gods of gold. 24. You need make for me an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings of well being, your sheep, and your oxen: in every place where I cause my name to be remembered  I will come to you  and bless you. 25 But if you make for me an altar of stone, do not not build it of hewn stone: for if you use a chisel upon it you profane it. 26. You shall not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness may not be exposed on it"

(Exodus chapter 20 verses 22 to 26)


God made it clear to His people that they were never to make idols of gold or silver and give them the same honour and ranking as they give to God. God occupies the most important place in our lives that can be matched by no other entity, be it natural such as our work career or family, or supernatural as in the worshipping of evil spirits or statues of saints that some idolise to the point of giving more worship to them than to God. 

God is good mighty and pure without the least blemish or traces of sin or corruption. Therefore in order to sacrifice to Him the apparatus used on which to offer sacrifices as in the case of the altar in our Churches are also to be made of non corruptible materials. All is to be as pure as possible in order to reflect the purity of God who is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient in the sense that He is anywhere and everywhere. He is formless and his power and love are beyond our imagination. Therefore when we make an idol or image of him we are creating a limited perspective of God, because no statue can ever portray the beauty, love and might of God as it really is.


This is why different people have different symbols, beliefs and interpretations of God, because we are all different. Moreover our social environment conditions our perception of God. In primitive times humans were very close to nature, As a consequence they created nature gods which they gave worship by offering sacrifices. Throughout the years God continued to manifest Himself to us and now we worship God in spirit and in truth. However there are still those who have decided to impose their beliefs on others up to the point of shedding the blood of others who do not share the same belief and even resort to evil acts as the beheading of whom they consider as being non believers. Their perception is so corrupted that they state that their actions are being done in the name of God, who is a God of love and peace and not one of murder and blood shed.


On having reflected on this chapter the author of this chapter, Mr. Deevain Ajit Pawar: invites us to keep a moment of silence, for all the victims of, murder, robbery adultery, our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq who are being slain for whom they believe in and others who have been convicted as the result of false accusations.

 Our source would like to end the following chapter with the prayer:

God I would like to pray for all the victims, as well as those who have sinned against You. I  hope all victims of murder rest in peace. Moreover I also pray for the families of such victims that You Oh God will help them to overcome their sadness by your blessings. I also pray for those who commit these sins so that they realise their mistake and try to amend it. God thank you for everything you given to us and hope you be with us just as you have been with our ancestors.

Thank you God for everything.