Why Commandments when we cannot keep them?
Why Commandments when we cannot keep them?
I was quite bothered by this question in the past because of my shallow understanding about the desires and the love of God for us.
It is not that now I can understand the desires and love of God perfectly, but I do know Him more as I consider the words and works that He had done for His children recorded in the Bible.
Let me share what I have learnt from reading these 2 chapters in Exodus.
Bible Passage: Exodus 19 – 20
The Bible is in fact a very unique and true book, and thus it can withstand the strict scrutiny by both the skeptics and the believers of the Bible.
Why do I say so? Let us look at one passage in chapter 19:
And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying,
“Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
v. 3 – 4
God declared to Moses, who in turn spoke to the people of Israel, reminding them of their witnessing of God’s mighty power over Pharaoh and his gods.
The 10 plagues were not only witnessed by all the Israelites, but also by the nation of Egypt.
There are extra-biblical proofs that the 10 plagues did actually happen in Egypt during Moses’ time. Below is an example, which I have obtained from the Internet.
The English translation of this fragment is below:
- Plague is throughout the land. Blood is everywhere.
- The river is blood
- That is our water! That is our happiness! What shall we do in respect thereof? All is ruin!
- Trees are destroyed.
- No fruit or herbs are found . . .
- Forsooth, grain has perished on every side.
- The land is not light [dark].
- Nile overflows [bringing the harvest], yet no one ploughs for him.
- No craftsmen work, the enemies of the land have spoilt its crafts.
- Gold and lapus lazuli, silver and malachite, camelian and bronze . . . are fastened on the neck of female slaves.
This piece of evidence is one of the numerous archaeological findings that can prove to us that the Bible is no ordinary book, and that the happenings contained within are no made-up stories to instill the fear of God in the readers.
The recordings in the Bible are true and inspired by God (2Timothy. 3:16-17), therefore it brings life and instructions to the readers.
So for us who believe, the words of God heard by Moses and thence being recorded by him are trustworthy, and are inspired by the Spirit of God.
When God reminded and assured the people,
“… and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall
be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
v. 4b – 5
how can we, who are believers of God, not understand that God had gone to great lengths to save His children out of the bondage of the evil Pharaoh.
Today we must remember the loving desires of God who saved us out from the bondage of Satan, so how can we not obey His commandments, unless we do not want to have the noble status of being a special treasure of our Lord God?
When we read of the 10 Commandments in chapter 20, do we find them difficult to keep or abide by?
Well, we may feel that these 10 Commandments are mere restrictions placed upon the shoulders of Christians, just like some restrictions placed on the believers of other faiths.
But let us realize a truth from the mouth of our Lord Jesus recorded by Matthew and John,
“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19: 17
“And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
John 12: 50
Keeping the commandments of God is to act and do according to the requirements stated in the commandments, and that is LIFE to us.
When we understand that all things from God are good and beneficial for us (James. 1:17), including His commandments, we will not find keeping His commandments a chore, but a delight.
And when we understand the desires and love of God for us, we will no longer say, “We can’t do this or that because of the commandments”, instead we will say, “We don’t want to do this or that because we love the Lord”.
Let us strive forward to draw closer to understand our loving God daily through meditating on His words, and let us rely on the Holy Spirit to obey and keep the commandments of God.
Shalom.