Chapter 9 · 3 min read · 4 min listen
Ten Good Words
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” — Exodus 20:2
Three months after they left Egypt, the Israelites came to Mount Sinai and camped at the bottom of the mountain.
God called to Moses from the mountain. “Tell the people this,” God said. “You have seen what I did to Egypt. You have seen how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now, if you obey Me and keep My promise, you will be My treasured people, out of all the nations.”
The people answered, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”
On the third day, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud came down on the mountain, and a trumpet blast sounded, very loud. Everyone in the camp trembled. The whole mountain was covered in smoke, because God came down on it in fire, and the mountain shook. The trumpet grew louder and louder.
Then God spoke. He gave His people ten commandments, ten good words for them to live by.
But before He told them a single rule, God reminded them of something. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
Did you notice? God rescued His people first. He didn’t say, “Keep these rules, and then I will rescue you.” He had already rescued them! The commandments were to show them how to live as His free, rescued people.
These are the ten commandments, in simple words:
- Do not have any other gods except Me.
- Do not make idols to worship.
- Do not misuse God’s name.
- Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
- Honour your father and your mother.
- Do not murder.
- Be faithful in marriage.
- Do not steal.
- Do not tell lies about other people.
- Do not covet. That means don’t long for things that belong to someone else.
The first four commandments are about loving God. The other six are about loving other people.
The people were frightened by the thunder and the smoke. “You speak to us,” they said to Moses, “and we will listen. But don’t let God speak to us, or we will die!”
“Do not be afraid,” said Moses. “God has come to test you, so that you will respect Him and not sin.”
Then Moses went up into the thick darkness on the mountain, where God was. Later, God gave Moses two flat stones with the commandments written on them, written by the finger of God Himself.
God’s commandments are good. They are like the fence around a playground, which keeps children safe from the busy road. They show us how to live well, the way God made us to live.
Looking ahead to Jesus: When someone asked Jesus which commandment was the most important, He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39). All ten commandments are about those two kinds of love. Jesus is the only one who ever kept them perfectly.
Read it in your Bible: Exodus 19–20
Dear God, thank you that you rescue your people and then show us how to live. Please help me to love you with all my heart, and to love other people too. Amen.
Talk about it together
Ask the questions first — then tap one for a note for grown-ups.
What happened on Mount Sinai when God came down?
There was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, smoke, a very loud trumpet, and the whole mountain shook.
What did God remind the people of before He gave them any commandments?
That He was the Lord their God, who had already rescued them from slavery in Egypt.
Which commandment do you find hardest to keep? Why?
Talk about it honestly. Grown-ups find them hard too. None of us keeps them perfectly, which is why we need Jesus, who forgives us and helps us to change.
Chapter 9 complete
Ten Good Words