YEA Lesson Library

The Lesson

Alex and Kim’s budget had been a little tight after buying a home and the birth of their first child, Amie. Alex received a good raise, and it was time to celebrate at the best restaurant they could afford. So the three of them went out for dinner. Midway through their meal, a shabbily dressed stranger walked in for a cup of coffee and seated himself at the counter.

The foul odor from this man reached a few feet away indicating he hadn't bathed for days. His pants had holes in them and the hemline was shredded. The blue coat he wore to keep warm was filthy. Shoulder length oily hair looked as though it hadn't been washed or combed for days. Dirt could be seen under his fingernails as they extended out of his fingerless gloves.

Alex and Kim tried to ignore this man while they enjoyed their rare evening out. Amidst all the conversation and laughter in the restaurant, Amie let out this shriek of joy. Her parents immediately looked to see what was causing the excitement. As their heads turned, they saw this filthy man smiling at their daughter and playing peekaboo. His toothless grin almost made Kim sick. But Amie's big blue eye grew even larger as this stranger tried to make her laugh. As Amie became more and more intrigued with her new friend, she stretched her arms out inviting the man to come pick her up. This will never do, thought Kim. She totally disapproved of this filthy, toothless stranger playing with her little daughter. Something had to be done, and done fast, she thought.

As soon as the waiter came with the bill, she grabbed Amie from the highchair and headed for the car to wait for Alex. But she miscalculated. She hadn't noticed that she had to go right by this man to leave the restaurant.

As Kim passed this man with her baby in her arms, Amie leaped, without warning, from Kim’s arms into the waiting embrace of this dirty, smelly stranger. Amie was delighted. He held her close to him and rocked her back and forth while the little girl laughed and cooed. Suddenly Kim realized the tenderness of the moment as she saw tears in the eyes of the stranger.

Do you recall how God looked down from heaven with tenderness and heard the deep sorrow of His people who were slaves in Egypt? He too was touched by the children of Israel. He heard their pleas for freedom from their harsh taskmasters. God called Moses from the burning bush and told him that He had come to "deliver them from the Egyptians and to take them out of Egypt into a good land, a large land, a land 'flowing with milk and honey.’" Some of the sufferings the Israelites' experienced could have been similar to this poor, dirty stranger in the restaurant. Unlike Kim's first reaction towards this filthy man, God had compassion for His people. Kim rejected the needs of this stranger and didn't want him involved with her daughter in any way. The Israelites may not have been clean nor attractive by today's standards. But God loved them anyway, even though they didn't appreciate what He was trying to do for them.

Three months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the base of Mount Sinai and set up camp facing that rugged mountain. Pentecost was approaching and God had a very special gift to give them.

“As Moses went up to meet God, God called down to him from the mountain: 'Speak to the House of Jacob, tell the People of Israel: “You have seen what Idid to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to me. If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you'll be my Special Treasure. The whole Earth is mine to choose from, but you're special: a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” This is what I want you to tell the People of Israel.’

"Moses came back and called the elders of Israel together and set before them all these words which GOD had commanded him.

"The people were unanimous in their response: 'Everything, GOD says, we will do.' Moses took the people's answer back to GOD. (Exodus 19:3-8, The Message).

Preparations were made for the major drama in the history of man to take place. This will not be just another day in the life of the sojourning Israelites. Why? Because what is about to happen is so awesome and revolutionary. God is about to codify His law so His people will have a written record of what He expects from them - what will make their lives work.

Make no mistake, this was not the beginning of God's law. It was here from the beginning. Every one of the Ten Commandments is seen in the Bible prior to the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. The nation of Egypt believed in a host of deities and in gods of all shapes and forms. The Israelites had lost track of the true God and His law during the 430 years that Israel was held captive as slaves in Egypt. Do you recall when God told Moses to tell the Israelites that their fathers' God sent him to free them, Moses said they would ask, "Which God are you talking about?" (Exodus 3:13). They were so ignorant of the true God that they would think He was just one of the many gods. You too are God's Special Treasure. Do you know the true God?