Living by the Book/Living by the Book Workbook Set (73 page)

Exodus 20:1–21

30 minutes daily

“The genius of the Word of God is that it has staying power; it can stand up to repeated exposure. In fact, that’s why it is unlike any other book” (p. 83).

S
o you think you know the Ten Commandments? Let’s spend a week as you read them repeatedly each day, and perhaps you’ll gather some new insights into this familiar passage.

Before reading the passage, see how many of the Ten Commandments you can recall from memory. (The national average is three to four.) Then read Exodus 20:1–21 to see how well you did. Spend some time thinking about what you’ve already been taught about this passage from books, sermons, etc.

Read the book of Exodus from the beginning until you get to Exodus 20. What is the significance of the Ten Commandments in light of the events just preceding them?

Put yourself in the place of an Israelite standing at the foot of Mount Sinai after being led out of slavery in Egypt. You would be hearing these commandments for the first time. How do you think you would feel? Why?