Originally posted: 03/10/2019

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven,’” (20:22).

The LORD speaks to His servant and His first words are His declaration of Who He Is and What He has done.

God spoke all these words, saying, ² ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,’” (20:1-2).

He speaks to remind His people of the two most vital aspect of their very existence: Who He Is, the LORD their God; and What He has done, brought His people out of slavery.

But the LORD God did not simply bring them out of… He brought them to… Himself. The LORD God did not merely rescue them for rescue’s sake, but to become their God, to bring them into relationship with Himself, a relationship established by Him Who Has Spoken From Heaven.

Consider Him Who Has Spoken From Heaven

He Has Spoken From Heaven to reveal Who He is and What He has done: “Then God spoke all these words, saying, ^{2 ‘}I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,’” (20:1-2).

He Has Spoken From Heaven to give His Law: (the Ten Commandments), (20:1-17).

He Has Spoken From Heaven to test His people: “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you….’” (20:20).

He Has Spoken From Heaven to keep His people from sin: “…and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin,” (20:20).

He Has Spoken From Heaven to provide instruction in acceptable worship: “You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. ²⁴ You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. ²⁵ If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it. ²⁶ And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it,” (20:23-26).

How do we respond to Him Who Has Spoken From Heaven?

• Let us daily and intentionally remember Who He is and what He has done. Forgetting the works of God is dangerous; it moves our attention and affection to what we can see rather than on Him. What a privilege to remember Him Who Has Spoken From Heaven by fixing our minds on the things of Heaven.
  • “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth,” (Colossians 3:1-2).

• The Law is God’s holy and perfect standard, but alas, keeping His perfect standard is an impossible feat. He Who Has Spoken From Heaven has given His Law to reveal our utter inability to uphold His standard and our desperate need for His salvation; that we would understand there is only One Hope and we must receive Him by faith.
  • “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith,” (Galatians 3:24).

• Testing becomes a part of our faith journey. Remember He Has Spoken from Heaven, “Do not be afraid;” for He comes in order to test us. His tests are not to prove our faith to Him, He knows all; His tests prove His faithfulness to us and to His promises. With each trial overcome by faith we gain greater assurance we are eternally His. Let us even be so bold as to ask Him to test us, knowing we will be strengthened by His faithfulness.
  • “Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
    Test my mind and my heart,” (Psalm 26:2).

• When we place our faith in Christ for salvation we are no longer under the Law. However, knowing Christ and all He has promised brings a greater desire to live according to His perfect and holy standard, not to be acceptable in His sight but to please Him out of indescribable gratitude. As we build our lives on the truth of Him Who Has Spoken from Heaven and grow in our desire for holiness, any enticement the world offers will pale in comparison.
  • “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

• He Who Has Spoken from Heaven has given us His standard for worship conveyed by His Son. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:24). Through our faith in Christ we are born by His Spirit into relationship with the Father and thereby enabled to worship and commune with Him in truth.
  • “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit,’” (John 3:6-8) .
  •  ^“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,’” (John 14:6).
  • “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth,” (John 17:17).

What a privilege we have to worship the Father through Jesus Christ and His Word, enabled by His Holy Spirit; for when we listen to His Son and His Word we have ears to hear Him Who Has Spoken from Heaven!

Let’s Grow Together!