Finishing up Chapter 3

1. Finishing up Chapter 3 Beginning on page 62 Grumbling in the Wilderness The Lord sweetens the water Provides manna and quail What was “manna”? At Sinai God sends the 10 Commandments A relationship is understood as a covenant when both parties promise to be faithful to each other

2. The 10 Commandments are often called the “Decalogue” • 1st Commandment does not say no other gods exist, it does say the Hebrews must worship Yahweh was their only God and that they were to worship no others • In-class, read page 64 right-column on meaning of 1st Commandment today

3. Use of God’s name • Keeping holy the Sabbath: we belong to God, not to man • Honor thy Father and Mother • The decline of the family today in supporting their elders, ex. Nursing homes • Dependence on society instead of children – a dangerous path, ex. Social Security • Do not kill – the sin begins with the desire • Self-defense is not murder • Abortion is murder

4. Do not commit adultery – the family comes before individual desires • The sin begins with the desire • Do not steal • Once you start to desire what other people have, will you ever stop or simply want more and more and more? • Do not give false testimony • Do not desire your neighbor's wife

5. Do not desire your neighbor’s property • These 10 Commandments reflect an incredibly deep understanding of human nature, far beyond what people of the time could have comprehended and probably beyond something humans could ever have developed on their own • Cannot step out of yourself to view yourself objectively • The Book of the Covenant – in your text tonight read bottom-right paragraph on pg 67

6. The 10 Commandments pose a fundamental question for people of conscience: What does it profit a person to gain the entire world if in the process they lose their immortal soul? • Moses seals the Covenant of Sinai in a ceremony described on page 68 • The Hebrews (and later the Christians) come to realize over the centuries that to be the chosen people of God is not an easy road to walk

7. When Moses returns to the mountain for forty days, the Jews believe he has left them and return to idolatry • Moses convinces God not to destroy the Hebrews. Instead Moses comes back down the mountain and destroys the two stone tables, which the people had already destroyed in spirit • God allows Moses to later bring two blank stone tablets and God rewrites the Commandments

8. The Ark of the Covenant is built to house the tablets and leads the Israelites on their journey • Based on Moses interactions with God, and the Israelites experiences with Moses, they compose an idea of what God is like • Read/study up to page 73 in textbefore tomorrow’s class

9. The 13 Attributes of God • 1&2: The Lord is the Lord of all creatures and the beginning and the ending of all things • 3: A God • 4: Merciful as a mother is merciful and nurturing to her child • 5: God is kind but its own sake, not as a means to some goal • 6: Slow to anger • 7: Abounding in steadfast love, even when He is disobeyed • 8: Faithfulness – always present and always offering love, whether it’s accepted or not • 9: Endless • 10, 11 & 12: God’s love and goodness are stronger than evil • 13: God forgives those who want forgiveness The greatest sin is believing that we have no need to be forgiven

10. Chapter 4The Law – Living out the Covenant • We start here tomorrow!!!