God's Ten Words at Sinai and the Ten Things God Said at Creation—Seven Through Ten
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Introduction
"He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."— Psalm 33:9
The summary of the first three Words and Sayings set a firm foundation for the revelation of our need for an established relationship with God through the delivering work of His one and only Son. A necessary element of that relationship is setting ourselves apart for Him by having no other gods, distinguishing Him above all else, and exalting His name rather than tearing it down by representing Him in the way we speak and live.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth words, "God says," reminded us to value God as the creator and the source of life (Word four), and to image this understanding in our family relationships by valuing and respecting our earthly creators/parents (Word five). We are to respect the sanctity of life (Word 6).
The Seventh of the "Ten Words"
"You shall not commit adultery."— Exodus 20:14
Adultery breaks and fragments what God has joined together.
... what God has joined together, let not man separate.
— Mark 10:9
Our human relationships are often reflective and symbolic of our relationship with God. Infidelity to one's spouse is symptomatic and symbolic of unfaithfulness to God Himself. The fifth of God's Ten Words taught us that our relationships are spiritual.
The number seven in biblical numerics is considered the number of completion and satisfaction; in fact, the Hebrew word "satisfy" is the same as the Hebrew word "seven."
The Garden of Eden illustrates our first example of adultery in Scripture. The unfaithful event occurred when the first two inhabitants chose to be satisfied by someone and something other than God and His provision. This act of infidelity opened the door for monumental brokenness and heartache that would carry on throughout the history of humankind and, ultimately, separation from the only one who was enough to satisfy. The husband-wife relationship completes the image of God's love that He desired to project.
God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
— Genesis 1:27
... they shall become one flesh.
— Genesis 2:24
Adultery muddies and distorts the portrait of that oneness God desires with His people, as revealed in Jesus's prayers for His followers.
... that they also may be one in Us.
— John 17:21
The Seventh "And God Said"
"Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind."— Genesis 1:24
"You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you."— Leviticus 19:19
If you mix or breed a horse and a donkey, you get a mule, and a mule cannot reproduce, as is the case with many animal mixes. Mixing can be compared to the modern practice of genetic modification, resulting in plants that cannot reproduce.
The third example is a bit more challenging until we understand that linen was the fabric, a plant product (think fig leaf), of Egypt. Egypt metaphorically represents the sinful world from which we were delivered. Wool is from the sacrificial lamb. And it was a sacrificial "lamb" that delivered both of them and us. To mix them made an example of an illicit union. Mixing what has not been joined together produces heartache and separation. Sadly, in terms of family, the most deeply affected by adultery are the children who get broken and fragmented by it, producing a confusing mixture that could be considered "unproductive" in God's eyes.
... did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore, take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
— Malachi 2:15
The Hebrew word pictograph for adultery shows this same concept: the first letter of the Hebrew word "naaph נאף," translated as adultery, is "nun נ."
If we combine the images into one concept, adultery is the strong, scornful, contemptuous, disrespectful, scattering, shattering, and fragmenting of faithful love that leads us astray and prevents the production of the image God desired to propagate his fruitful, productive, loyal love.
The reproduction of His loyal and faithful love in the children (fruit produced) is the purpose of God's heart in HIs rules for relationships.
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An Example From Moses
“Be holy, for I am holy.”— I Peter 1:16
... that they may be one just as We are one ...— John 17:22
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The Eighth of the "Ten Words"
"You shall not steal."— Exodus 20:15
Stealing comes in many forms. It most obviously includes possessions, but can also include privacy, innocence, opportunities, and reputation. The religious leaders illustrate this concept that Jesus describes in John chapter 10.
The thief (false teachers and religious leaders) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
— John 10:10
Jesus' accusation to them was that they were stealing true "religion" and glorification by "climbing up (stealing— obtaining righteousness) another (their own) way" rather than humbly submitting to His Lordship. They wanted the praises of the people and the glory due only to His name.
My glory I will not give to another.
— Isaiah 42:8
Is it possible to steal God's principles for selfish motives as the religious rulers of the time did? Yes, but we will never truly enter the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd in doing so.
... he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
— John 10:1
True religion gives, it does not steal.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit (help or benefit) orphans and widows in their trouble,and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
— James 1:27
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The Eighth "And God Said"
“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion (take possession) over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”— Genesis 1:26
Since we are created in the image of God, we need to understand that our God does not steal; instead, He is a generous and giving God who holds nothing back, and we are to be like Him.
... be imitators of God as dear children.
— Ephesians 5:1
He has generously provided for all that we need and commands us to take possession of all He has given us, making it unnecessary to steal.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy Temple.
— Psalm 65:4
He is El-Shaddai, the God who is more than enough.
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| Rebecca Kennison |
The Ninth of the "Ten Words"
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."— Exodus 20:16
A bit of "word" study on the keywords in this "Word" will clarify this.
It is tempting to view this one only in terms of a courtroom setting, which this idea could very well include, but it is much more far-reaching than testifying in a court of law, from which many of us could exempt ourselves. The Hebrew word "bear" in this verse means to judge, accuse, and pronounce a sentence against. Essentially, it is judging people and verbally pronouncing a sentence against them. Gossip comes to mind in this respect. Again, we see this principle illustrated by the religious rulers of the time of Christ, who sought any occasion they could to accuse Jesus. Eventually, it was false accusations that led to His crucifixion. Although this was part of the plan for our salvation, it still conveys the level of destruction it can cause. The word "false" includes obvious definitions, such as those for "lie" and "slander."
Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.
— Psalm 101:5
This verse reveals that pride and self-exaltation are rooted in this sin. It is a means to tear one down to build oneself up.
The concept of falsehood can also include idle, useless, or vain words spoken against someone, which is reminiscent of gossip.
... every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
— Matthew 12:36
The word "witness" means to testify against.
"By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."
— 2 Corinthians 13:1
When we speak negatively and judge others, we align with the enemy, testify against those we are speaking about, and may help establish adverse outcomes for others. We want to be imitators of God, our Father, and not be examples of being children of the devil.
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
— John 8:44
We show whose we are by who we imitate.
... speak evil of no one, be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
— Titus 3:2
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother.
— James 4:11
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| Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794–1872) |
The Ninth "And God Said"
“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”— Genesis 1:28
This ninth saying repeats the concept of having dominion over what God has given and created. We are not permitted to dominate and prosper by oppression, through word or deed. We are not to prosper and succeed at the expense of our neighbor.
... you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.
— Leviticus 25:17
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| By Gabriel S. Delgado C. from Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela |
The Tenth of the "Ten Words"
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”— Exodus 20:17
The word "covet" in this verse is the same word used to describe the trees in the garden as "pleasing" to the eye. It is also the same word Eve used in her consideration of whether or not she should eat the forbidden fruit. She concluded that since it was "pleasing to her eye," she should have it. Potential pleasure is the prevailing principle of covetousness. It leads to murder, adultery, stealing, and lying. I see, I want, I take.
King David shows us how this works when he sees (covets) Bathsheba bathing on the roof. In II Samuel 11:2, he took (stole) her. Then David commits adultery with her (vs.4). When his sin is about to find him out through the pregnancy of Bathsheba (vs. 5), David resorts to deceiving (a form of lying) Uriah, her husband, as well as around him to cover it up. (vs.6-12) When this all failed, he resorted to murdering her husband (vs.15).
Coveting may seem like the smallest of all the transgressions of the ten, but as we see in this account of David's life, it is not such a minor sin. He essentially trespasses against every Word God has spoken by the seemingly insignificant act of coveting.
And then there was Eve, whose supposedly minor act of coveting the forbidden fruit led to high treason and adultery against God, which resulted in death and separation of humanity. Envy as well led Christ to the cross.
... the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy ...
— Mark 15:10
Again, we understand that it was part of Christ's plan to die as He did, but it shows the far-reaching consequences of this seemingly small thing.
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The Tenth "And God Said"
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made.— Genesis 1:29-31
God sums this all up in the tenth thing that He said, "See, I have given you." There is no need to murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or envy your neighbor because God has provided all we need.
The following is what God tells David in response to his adultery with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, and ultimately, God Himself.
Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed (empowered and assigned) you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?
— 2 Samuel 12:7
We can see that when God gives dominion, He also gives responsibility to use it righteously for the benefit of others and His glory, trusting that He will provide all we could ever need.
... my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:19
The Progressive Conclusion
... without Me you can do nothing.— John 15:5
In that relationship, we are enabled to love others. Jesus summed them up in two commandments.
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
— Matthew 22:35-40
We see here how interrelated and integrated all that God "says" and "speaks" is, and how vitally necessary they are for life and for our relationship with Him and one another.
© 2013 Tamarajo
Links to the Entire Series
God's Ten Words at Sinai and the Ten Things God Said at Creation—One Through Three
God's Ten Words at Sinai and the Ten Things God Said at Creation—Four Through Six
God's Ten Words at Sinai and the Ten Things God Said at Creation—Seven Through Ten
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