In our house, we have a fireproof lockbox in which we keep important documents. Some documents are important legally (e.g., birth certificates, marriage license, will). Others are important relationally (e.g., love letters, family pictures).
At Mount Sinai (called “Horeb” in this passage), God revealed His covenant with Israel, including the laws and decrees. The foundation of this covenant was the Ten Commandments (v. 13). These laws and decrees were important to Israel both legally and relationally. Israel’s most important and precious privilege was their relation- ship with God. Their faithfulness to God would be their source of success and flourishing in the land of Canaan. They would not take possession of the land because of their military might or skill, but because of their humble obedience to the Lord (v. 1).
When they faithfully obeyed the covenant, they would be different. Other nations would sit up and take notice: “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (v. 6). Their relationship with the Lord would be a witness to the world. The Law of God was a gift that set them apart. That is why it was vital for Israel to remember, obey, and pass on their knowledge of God from generation to generation. They were to “teach them to your children and to their children after them” (v. 9).
As followers of Jesus today, we also should be different. Not because of our own wisdom or intelligence, but because of our relationship with God. The apostle Peter reminded the church, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). That is why we should “live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).
How can our relationship with God be used to accomplish His mission to the world?
You revealed Your covenant to Israel and led them out of slavery in Egypt. We praise You today, Lord, for Your covenant of love and grace with us through Your Son—“out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
In Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (see Day 9), Christian and Faithful one day entered Vanity Fair, a place of many worldly temptations. Offended by their unwillingness to participate, the townspeople threw the pair into prison. They held a mock trial and condemned them to death. Although God allowed Christian to escape, Faithful was tortured and burned at the stake, entering heaven as an honored martyr.
Even when the price is high, we must obey God. Many Bible stories illustrate this principle, including Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac and Daniel in the lions’ den. Noah teaches us this lesson as well. His extreme obedience was rooted in his righteous character and godly lifestyle (v. 9). He lived in stark contrast to the world around him (vv. 11–12).
When God commanded him to build the Ark, Noah may have been tempted to disobey or at least obey halfheartedly. The task appeared ludicrous. The huge size of the boat was bad enough (vv. 14–16). The assertion that the whole earth would be flooded and all life would perish seemed absurd (v. 17). The idea that only Noah and his family, accompanied by pairs of animals, would survive seemed like delusions of grandeur (vv. 18–21). Nonetheless, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (v. 22).
How long did it take to build the Ark? Scholars suggest about 75 years, given the ages and births recorded in the genealogies. For example, Ham had not even been born yet when God gave this command to Noah. Over the years, there would have been many opportunities for Noah to leave the path of obedience, but he persisted in faith (Heb. 11:7). Through words and deeds, he preached a message of judgment and righteousness to the world around him (2 Peter 2:5).
What can we learn from Noah’s example of obedience? How are you cultivating this way of life?
Equip us, Lord God. Make us ready to follow and obey You no matter what. As we study today’s Bible passage, may we learn from Noah’s example how to face challenges, trusting You against all odds.
The book of Proverbs warns us to avoid pride: “Pride brings a person low” (29:23) and “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). These are serious warnings, but this one is the most grim: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished” (16:5).
Ananias and Sapphira illustrate this truth. They were tempted to lie about the price of the land they had sold and thus the nature of their gift to the church. Why? Pride. They wanted to be praised for their generosity. They’d missed the point of the early church sharing resources and giving to those in need for the sake of the gospel (Acts 4:34–37). They’d also missed the point of giving as an act of worship to the Lord (Matt 6:1–4).
The two conspired to hold back some of the money and lie about it. Their sin was public and deliberate. Peter went so far as to say that Ananias’s heart was filled or controlled by Satan (5:3–4). The couple’s pride, dishonesty, and lack of generosity cost them their lives (vv. 5, 9). The early believers needed to learn that they were not playing a social game. The “great fear” that “seized the whole church” (vv. 5, 11) was a valid “fear of the Lord,” indicating a proper respect and reverence for His glory. Verse 11 is actually the first occurrence of ekklesia (“congregation” or “church”) in the Book of Acts.
We can try to fake generosity or worship, but God knows our hearts. When we are tempted to treat these matters lightly, the story of Ananias and Sapphira should warn us away from pride and toward proper humility before the Lord and others.
In this age of social media, posing and pretense are strong temptations. What are some practical ways we can combat this prideful desire to look good and receive praise? How can we be authentic?
Loving God, teach us how to follow You wholeheartedly, without hypocrisy. By Your Spirit draw us together, inflame us with a desire to do Your will, and to be Your faithful people in the name of Your Son, our Lord.
Who do you view as “the enemy”? In Jonah’s day, Assyria was Israel’s despised enemy. While the country was not as militarily strong as it had been or would become, it was still a threat. Assyria would conquer the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. As the Moody Bible Commentary summarizes: “Assyria was a hated and cruel nation. To bless them was to curse Israel in Jonah’s mind.”
So Jonah’s jaw likely hit the floor when God commanded him to prophesy to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (vv. 1–2). He was tempted to disobey. Why? A lack of godly love. He knew that if he brought a message of judgment, the Assyrians might repent and then God might relent or even forgive them (Jonah 4:1–3). Frankly, he didn’t want that to happen. He preferred to see God’s judgment crush Israel’s enemies.
Jonah’s failure didn’t lie in misunderstanding the situation, but rather in not trusting the Lord and not imitating His grace and mercy. Jonah loved as normal humans do. We love our own group, our own people. But Israel was supposed to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:3). And as Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount, our “neighbor” might be our enemy (Matt. 5:43–48). God’s love is far greater than human love. Jonah knew that, but he chose the wrong direction.
Jonah fled in the opposite direction, directly disobeying God’s command (v. 3). What did he think would happen? After all, God is everywhere (Ps. 139:7–12). Did he really think he could stall or derail God’s plan? God could have given up on Jonah or sent another prophet. Instead, the same love that pursued the Assyrians pursued Jonah—via a storm and a pagan ship’s crew. The Lord showed grace and mercy to His sinful prophet.
Why did Jonah resist God’s command? Why was it so difficult for him to preach to his enemy? What does this teach us?
Jesus, You tell us to love one another as You have loved us. Yet, we confess how difficult it is to care deeply for the well-being of others. Like Jonah, we are quick to judge. Show us the “Ninevites” You want us to reach.
The first failure to resist temptation happened in the Garden of Eden. Where was this garden? We don’t know, but many suggestions have been put forward. They include locations in Armenia, Iran, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, India, Venezuela, and Iraq, as well as Charleston, South Carolina, and even the North Pole!
While we may not know exactly where the Fall took place, we are familiar with the story: God gave Adam and Eve one rule—not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan, taking the form of a serpent (Rev. 12:9), tempted Eve. She ate the fruit and gave some to Adam who joined her in disobedience. What can we learn from their failure to resist temptation? First, we become vulnerable to temptation and deception when we call God’s words into question. That’s how the serpent began, by saying, “Did God really say…?” (v. 1). Notice how Eve then misquoted God by adding to the original prohibition, “and you must not touch it” (v. 3). In fact, her legalism only weakened her for Satan’s next move. The serpent contradicted God’s words and slandered God’s motives: You won’t die, he insisted, in fact you’ll gain knowledge and everything that God is trying to keep from you (vv. 4–5). Finally, he appealed to her pride, “you will be like God.” Not surprisingly, pride was central to Satan’s own fall (see Isa. 14:12–15).
We see the basic dynamics of temptation here. This temptation was surrounded by lies; they promise what they cannot deliver and suggest that disobedience is better than obedience.
In the next days, we’ll look at people in the Bible who failed to resist temptation. Just as Paul wrote that Eve’s deception is a warning for us (2 Cor. 11:3), so these other biblical examples can teach spiritual lessons in what not to do.
What do we learn about temptation from Adam and Eve? What lessons can you take away from this narrative?
Adam and Eve’s disobedience in today’s reading reminds us, Lord, that there’s nothing about us that You do not already know. Give us courage not to hide from You, but to come to You with all our doubts and fears.
