This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Yesterday we saw how time after time, and place after time, the nation of Israel murmured and complained to God after He miraculously delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. They did nothing to cause God to deliver them, and the Israelites then did nothing but complain after they were set free. But instead of getting angry and striking them down, every fresh murmur from the people was answered with a fresh blessing from God. I want to make sure you are getting this. God delivered the nation of Israel from Egypt by Grace. The Israelites exhibited no faith, they did not pray for God to move, and it seemed like they did not even want to leave. And then, after He parted the Red Sea, blessed them to walk across on dry ground, and then swallowed up their enemies, the Lord continued to bless the Israelites by Grace. It seemed like every place they went, all they did was complain to Moses and God about the situation they were in, but every time they complained, God blessed them by Grace. Not because they deserved it, not because they earned it, not because they exhibited faith, but only because of His goodness. However, all of this happened BEFORE THE LAW was given.
In Exodus 20 the Lord told Moses the 10 Commandments. From Exodus 21-31 the Lord gave Moses a litany of addition laws. In Exodus 32 the Lord wrote the 10 Commandments on tablets of stone, with His own finger. But by the time Moses got down from the mountain, with the Law of God on tablets of stone, the people had already violated the Law. They thought Moses was taking too long, so they built a golden calf to be their god, for them to worship. Moses was so angry that he said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” The only ones who responded were the Levites. They obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day. Then Moses told the Levites, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.”
Let me give you another quick example before I close. Yesterday you saw how much the people complained and how God blessed them with every complaint. This was prior to the Law. After the Law was given, in Numbers 21, we see a completely different response from God. The Bible says, “The people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” This sounds like the very same complaining we read yesterday, which led to God’s blessings (before the Law). But now, after the Law was given, the Lord pulled back His protection and poisonous snakes bit those who complained and they all died. The people then quickly came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things.
1. The Law brought death..The day the Law was introduced 3,000 people died. No one died before, while they were complaining and murmuring to God. But they died once the Law was introduced and they violated it. Prior to the Law, there were no rules to break. As soon as the rules were given, they were broken. As a matter of fact, the rules were being broken while Moses was still up in the mountain receiving them.
2. The Law brought human effort. When the Levites killed 3,000 people on the day the Law was given, Moses told them, “Today you have earned a blessing.” Prior to the Law being given, no one earned anything. Place after place, time after time, God blessed His people by Grace. Not because they earned it or deserved it, but only because He is so good. Prior to the Law, when the people were under Grace, they did not have to earn anything. But once they were under the Law, they were forced to live by human ability, and they had to work to earn what they wanted to receive from God. The Law is about man working for God. Grace is about God working for man. When I was a child, growing up in a very religious church, I thought I had to live under the Law and I tried my best to earn God’s best, but I never could. Now that I know better and I have embraced Grace, I simply access, by faith, all that God has freely given me, by Grace. Not because I am so good, but because He is. Now my life is not about me, it is All About Him!
3. The Law gives sin it’s strength. Paul later taught that the letter (the Law) kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:6), that the Law actually gives sin its strength (1 Cor 15:56), and Paul even called the 10 commandments, which was God’s Law etched in stone, “the ministry of death” (2 Cor 3:7). Why? Because the Law was designed to show us that we needed a Savior. The Law was designed to get us (mankind) to the end of ourselves. We could never fulfill the Law. The Law condemns us, but Jesus came to give us access to eternal life and freedom IN HIM by Grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for the preaching of the Gospel of Grace. I heard the Gospel, I responded to it, and I have been saved. THANK YOU! You sent Your Son Jesus — who was born of a virgin, who lived a sinless and perfect life, and who willingly gave His life for me — to die on Calvary’s cross for the remission of sin. Jesus paid a price I could not pay for a debt He did not owe. Jesus paid it all and He did it for me! Under the Law of Moses I was condemned. I could never fulfill the Law of Moses and under the Law I could never be declared right with You. However, You offered me forgiveness of sin, eternal life in Christ, and a right standing with You; and You offered it to me by Grace. Not because I deserved it, not because I could earn it, and not because I could ever make it up to You. No, You freely gave me eternal life and the gift of righteousness when I accepted Jesus as my Lord by faith. By faith I accessed Your Grace and I have never, nor will I ever be the same. Jesus was MADE sin so that I could be MADE righteous. I am now the righteousness of God by faith. I am not righteous because of what I do, or righteous because of what I fail to do. I am only righteous because of what Jesus did. I am free from the ministry of death and I walk in the liberty wherewith Christ Jesus has made me free. Thank You Father for being so good to me. I will never cease to give You praise for Jesus. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
