The First Commandment by J. O. Corliss

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 11, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 15.

The First Commandment

By J. O. Corliss

"THOU shalt have no other gods before Me." This first requirement of the Ten Commandments was spoken from the midst of a cloud which hung over and about the mountain of Sinai. The people to whom these words were spoken were the descendants of Abraham, the "friend of God." Their ancestors had become bond-servants of the king of Egypt more than two centuries before, and these listeners at the base of Sinai had been reared amid the grossest rites and ceremonies of sun-worship.

God had called them forth from these surroundings, to serve Him in a land of His own choosing; namely, Palestine. When this command was uttered, they had been miraculously delivered from their task-masters; had passed between high walls of water, supernaturally piled up, at the crossing of the Red Sea; and for more than a month had eaten the bread of heaven, while traversing the barren sands of the desert. At every turn an unseen hand had provided for their safety and comfort. They were doubtless impressed with their singular experience, without being able satisfactorily to account for all its details.

In fact, these people were semi-heathens, and were being thus led of God for a single purpose. They were altogether below the standard of morals which was pleasing to God, but His word had been pledged to Abraham that his posterity should be redeemed from bondage and returned to the land of Canaan. Gen. 15:13-16. This assurance was, however, but a reiteration, in part, of a larger promise previously made to the same patriarch, in which God covenanted to deliver to his seed, not only the land of Canaan, but also the whole earth. Gen. 13:14, 15; Rom. 4:13.

It mattered not what the moral status of Abraham's progeny might be when the time of their deliverance came, God must fulfil His own word regarding them. But He could not even then take them to Canaan unconditionally. They must be made acquainted with their heavenly Benefactor, and so, in addition to their wonderful deliverance from Egypt and the marvelous daily gift of food, they were brought out to the quiet of the rocky ramparts of Sinai to learn the source of their remarkable deliverance from rigorous bond-service.

Great caution was observed by placing bounds about the mountain lest in the attempt of God to reveal Himself to these children of nature, their curiosity should lead them to destroy themselves by rushing toward the intended display. When everything was ready, and the people were stilled for the occasion, all at once the mountain of Sinai was observed to be enveloped in a great smoke, and the whole structure trembled as though shaken by an earthquake.

At this juncture the voice of God was heard from the midst of the fire and smoke. His first words were: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Ex. 20:2. The sight and sound of the occasion were nearly overwhelming. Immediately the people began to retreat to a safe distance, and pleaded with Moses to speak to them, rather than God, that they might not die. The reply of their leader was: "Fear not; for God is come to prove [try] you, that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not." Verses 18-20.

Having satisfied the people of His glory and greatness by the moving of Sinai, the shaking of the earth, and the lowering of the heavens, to bring down the thousands upon thousands of angels (Ps. 68:8, 17), God made known His first command to them: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." It matters not that you have been reared to venerate the sun, because of its light and heat, which add to the soil's fruitfulness; do not be misled to prefer it before Me as a god. Do not make any god of gold or silver, in imitation of Egyptian deities. These can not talk with you from heaven as I am doing. Ex. 20:22, 23. I am the God of salvation; unto Me belong the issues from death. Ps. 68:20.

So well did the Lord know the inbred learning of the people before Him, and so anxious was He to guard their weaknesses, that He gave them instruction even to make their altar of sacrifices of earth, lest they might build in imitation of the ornate ones left behind in Egypt, which were associated with the sun-worship of that country. They might make an altar of stones provided they would build it of natural boulders without any attempt to chisel it into form. Indeed, every safeguard possible was thrown about them to prevent them from imitating the

worship of those from whose midst they had been rescued.

But these precautions were unheeded, to the disgrace of the people and to the distress of Moses; for while the servant of the Lord was some days communing with God in the mount, and the camp was held in waiting, the rumor circulated that he who had been their leader was gone, perhaps for all time, and the people at once lost their self-control. They had trusted Moses as their god, because he was recognized as leader above any other one apparent to their physical sight, and now that he was no more in evidence, they must have a visible god to lead them on their way. So taking their gold ornaments in hand which they brought from Egypt, Aaron was approached and required to form a golden figure which they might recognize as the god to lead them to their anticipated refuge.

We wonder, no doubt, how that people so soon after witnessing the display at Sinai, and experiencing the keeping power of God on their journey from bondage, could so far depart from the instruction received. But theirs was an experience which has been, and is still, being repeated by those who profess to be led by Providence in life's journey. So long as prosperity attends their way, they do not object to giving God credit for it. But let their plans be thwarted, or some calamity attend them, and they immediately resort to some known physical force to relieve the situation, apparently forgetting that help can come alone from Him who rules in the heavens, and who has said: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."

It is very evident, when we stop to consider the matter, that this commandment broadly applies to all such cases as just cited, the same as to those to which we have been so apt to suppose it was confined; namely, the constant and continuous worship of the sun, or some living earthly creature. Must we not so conclude when we seek help, in time of distress, from some source outside of God's appointment, and so put some other being or thing before, or in place of, God?

This is not to say that there are not natural agencies which may be employed as helps all along the journey of life. But even in using these, why should not the Christian recognize them simply as mediums through which God can and will operate for our benefit, providing that we ask Him so to do? In such case God always will be recognized as protector and preserver, and the recipient of His favors may always chant with the psalmist, with the deepest confidence:

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."—Psalm 23.