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In the beginning of today’s reading, Exodus 19–21, the Israelites were given strict instructions as they approached the mountain. This was the mountain—Mt. Sinai—where God would reveal Himself more fully than He had ever done before. It was the mountain where His presence would rest, where Moses would speak with Him, and where the commandments would be given. Before drawing close to God at the mountain, the people were required to undergo a three-day ceremonial cleansing. And even after that they were warned not to touch the mountain. If they or any living thing did, they would instantly die.

These three days of purification reminded me of another three-day period in Scripture—the time Jesus spent in the grave before rising to bring eternal cleansing to all who place their faith in Him.

In Exodus 20, we encounter the Ten Commandments for the first time. These commandments can be categorized into two groups: the first four are about our relationship with God, and the remaining six concern our relationship with others. This is why, when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He summarized them as follows:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37–40)

In other words, the Ten Commandments—and, by extension, all of the Old Testament (Law and the Prophets)—are instructions on how to love God and love others.

Following the giving of the Ten Commandments, Moses begins to relay specific laws for the people. This connects directly to what Jethro advised Moses in Exodus 18:20—to teach those he delegated on how to judge lesser conflicts.

One law that particularly stood out to me in this section deals with any harm done to an unborn child. God demanded the punishment for this sin would be a:

“life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:23–25)

This verse reveals God’s view on the sanctity of life and the rights of the unborn, affirming that even a child in the womb is valued and protected under His law.

Takeaways: 1) God is deserving of our honor and respect. Just as the Israelites had to purify themselves before approaching Him, we too should recognize the significance of our interaction with a holy God. 2) God’s law is ultimately about love—not just a list of rules, but a guide to how we can show are love to Him and to others. 3) Lastly, we see that God values every life. The laws He gave to Israel emphasize the deep worth He places on human life, including the unborn. This truth should shape the way we view and protect life today, ensuring that our hearts reflect His heart for justice and love for all people.