The Promised Landਨਮੂਨਾ

God gave Moses hundreds of laws to share with the Hebrew people for their journey through the wilderness and beyond. Even for the rule-lovers among them, this would have been overwhelming. Plus, the task of memorizing and obeying so many laws probably didn’t feel very freeing to a people who had just escaped bondage.

Obeying the many “rules” that mark the Christians life can also seem daunting to us today. When you add in all of the ways each commandment is translated and interpreted, it can make you feel like throwing in the towel before you even begin walking with God.

When an expert in religious law asked Jesus which law of Moses was the most important, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” He added from Leviticus 19:18: “A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Every commandment of God seeks to answer one or both of these questions: How do I love God, and how do I love my neighbor?

The simplicity of this calling does not mean it is easy. In fact, it can feel impossible to make choices every second of every day that are loving rather than sinful. Well, that’s because it is. The author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins” (7:20). No one, except Jesus, will ever live a perfect human life (it’s okay to let out a sigh of relief).

God does not abandon us when we sin but will forgive us if we confess and repent. When the Hebrews grew impatient during one of Moses’ mountain meetings with God, just three months after fleeing Egypt, they sinned by worshiping a lifeless object made of gold. Moses sought forgiveness on their behalf, and God re-committed to dwell with them and guide them to the Promised Land despite their disobedience.

For the Hebrews, true freedom was found in trusting, following, and obeying God, not in escaping Egypt or worshipping a shiny object. As we draw nearer and nearer to God, we can start to view the commands of God not as restricting, but as freeing, because they point us toward what we were created to do: love God and love our neighbor. This is what an abundant and full life looks like!