“And he said, ‘Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.’” Exodus 34:10
Israel was a nation of people who were set apart for God and called to display to the world what it looked like to have God as their King. God loved them so much that he made a “covenant” with them.
A covenant is a relationship between two parties that is based on love. Both parties in the covenant agree to do certain things for each other out of love. It’s very similar to a marriage relationship: when a man and a woman love each other, they make a covenant to love and serve each other for life. God made a similar arrangement with Israel.
One of the reasons why God commanded Israel to not make idols was that it went against his covenant. While the nations around them all had idols, worshiping what their own hands had made, Israel was called to worship the living God alone by keeping the covenant.
Questions
- Could the idols of other nations do what God could do? Why or why not?
- Who holds the power in our covenant relationship with God?
- Are you trusting in him alone and not idols? How could this trust be displayed?
Pray
Father, please make your power and glory known through us just like you did for Israel long ago. Thank you that we have a special relationship with you because of Jesus. Thank you that we don’t have to go to created things to satisfy us: we can go to you, the one true and living God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This devotion is adapted from the Ten Commandments Study Guide.
