Biblical scholars can argue for hours, or perhaps even years, about the specifics of biblical dating. Because of the changes in calendar systems, the extensive use of oral tradition prior to written texts, and a wide variety of other factors, there is much that is open to interpretation. So without any claim to specific accuracy, it was somewhere around 3,500 years ago when our grandfather Moses led our people out of slavery in Egypt. We’ve been telling the story of the Exodus for a very long time. Our people had been telling that story for a millennium and a half before Jesus was born. But we have some incredibly clear stories of those events. Our common history is pretty clear on some of the things that happened. And some of the parts of that story have become very important to the way we live our lives today.

There are legal scholars who claim that the foundation of all written law can be found in the ten commandments that Moses received on Mt. Sinai and brought down to the people of Israel. Having discovered their idolatry, he broke the first set of stone tablets in a fit of rage. Then, after pleading for mercy from God, another set were finally delivered to our people.

Let’s remember the context. Jacob and his family moved to Egypt during a time of famine and our people stayed there for a long time. At first their conditions weren’t exactly slave-like, but the oppression of the Egyptians became more and more harsh. As the population of the people of Israel continued to grow, Pharaoh felt more threatened and he increased the oppression, discrimination and even torture of the workers. Depending on which biblical scholar you consult, our people were kept in Egypt for somewhere between 200 and 400 years or more. That is many generations. We had gotten used to being slaves.

When Moses led us out of slavery, we didn’t know how to behave as free people. We didn’t have a clue what it meant to be free. The ten commandants were given as simple guidelines for life as free people. Even though we use the same text to refer to the commandments and even though we all seem to come up with ten, the combinations of commandments mean that different faith traditions number the commandments a little bit differently. But the bottom line is the same. The commandments are not intended to be restrictions on the freedom of the people, but rather guidelines for life as free people:

You want to be free? Remember that I am the God of freedom. Don’t let anything else take my place, Anything else that you worship will ultimately enslave you.

You want to be free? Only one God. Remember that bit about how giving loyalty to false gods enslaves? That goes for the images, sculptures, statues and paintings you make as well. They aren’t God. Don’t forget it.

You want to be free? Don’t use the name of God for any other purpose but genuinely calling on God.

You want to be free? Take a day off every week.

You want to be free? Treat your elders the way you want your children to treat you when you get old.

You want to be free? Don’t murder. You’ll become enslaved by the consequences of your behavior. The same goes for adultery, stealing and lying. Every one ends up enslaving you to the stories you have lived.

Oh, and one more thing: to be free quit wishing you had the things that you don’t have.

It is a very simple set of guidelines for living as free people.

God doesn’t set a priority and make one rule more important than another. Each is equally important. Think about that the next time you fail to remember the Sabbath or look with envy upon the possessions of another. Both of those actions are equal in their threat to enslave you as are murder and adultery.

To put it another way, one of my teachers once said, If we can’t get people to honor the Sabbath, have we got any chance at getting them to stop killing on another. And coveting? You might as well give up on that one.

I see it another way. I’m no more innocent than a thief. When it comes to a perfect record on these rules, I’m a long ways away from it. It is only by the grace of God that I know any freedom at all. And once in a while, through God’s grace, I get reminded of how I can enjoy that freedom. Whatever symbol or image I have that I think is important - it is time to give that up. Whatever envy I have towards those who have more than I - it is time to give it up. Freedom doesn’t come from sitting around and griping or from within that things were different than they are. Freedom comes from focusing my attention on God and allowing everything that isn’t God to assume a lesser role in my life. Freedom comes from being very careful in my choose of words and my use of God’s name. Freedom comes from living the truth so not only are the words I say true, but also the life I live.

The story of the struggles of our people to keep faithfulness to this wonderful covenant with God read a bit like a broken record. Again and again, we forgot how to live as free people. Again and again God intervened calling us back to lives of freedom. Through prophets and Jesus and apostles God called us again and again to live lives of freedom.

Sometimes we don’t behave any better than the former slaves in the wilderness dancing around the calf made form the spoils they took out of Egypt. Worshiping gold was pretty tempting. And it was pretty pointless in a land where food and water were in short supply.

Fortunately, God is patient. We keep repeating their behavior and need to learn the lessons of freedom over and over and over again.

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