An overview of the civil laws given to Moses for Israel to show their great wisdom and kindness, and to explain the real benefits of some that seem unfair when not read alongside passages that explain them. Also, their immense value to Christians.
The first five books of the Bible are known as the Pentateuch, and were originally one book.
Everything has its foundation in Genesis. You can find every New Testament doctrine either clearly expressed or hinted at in the first book of the Bible; it is so deep, so rich. There is no progressive revelation in the Bible; every doctrine found in the New Testament has its roots in Genesis. It is a book of literal events and history – that is how it is unequivocally presented in the word of God. It was given after the children of Israel had been 400 years in Egypt, and no doubt by then they were infected by all kinds of false ideas from their time there.
All the doctrines of grace are found in this first book of the Bible. There is nothing better than a study of these to prove beyond all possible doubt the magnificent unity of the Bible, and to prove that it has one author throughout – the Holy Spirit of the Living God. All these great doctrines were delivered by inspiration to Moses around 1445 BC. The landscape was clearly visible in the rising dawn of Old Testament light, and it was precisely the same landscape which sprang into even clearer view in the blazing sun of the New Testament age. Liberal theologians speak of religious ideas emerging gradually over the period of the Old Testament, but the Book of Genesis renders such a view preposterous.
Exodus deals with the centuries after Joseph, the six serious failings that brought the Israelites into slavery, and the raising up of Moses – a type or foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Christ – who was commissioned by God to lead them out of slavery. Many spiritual lessons are found here – including the astonishing events of the crossing of the Red Sea, God’s provision of manna in the wilderness for forty years, the drama of Sinai and the fall of the people into idolatry. We also have the first hymn to be found in the Bible, in Exodus 15.
The first seven chapters of the book of Leviticus are really about true repentance for believers, and there are a great many principles of worship and holiness that we can learn. It contains many details of burnt offerings, general offerings and offerings for atonement of sin. But what are these sacrifices? They are symbols. We know that they could not actually take away sin, but the people should have realised that, because the same sacrifices were performed over and over again – the great annual Day of Atonement took place every year and the same sacrifices were offered afterwards. In other words, sin was still there and it was not yet taken away. It all awaited that great coming Descendant.
Numbers contains many stirring lessons and applications for us today, including the necessity of the ‘working church’ principle and spiritual activism, the spiritual posture of warfare that the Christian must adopt, the call-up to holiness and – most dramatically of all – the sobering consequences of man-made worship methods.
Deuteronomy contains doctrines, comforts, promises and exhortations of Moses – the inspired pastor-prophet more quoted by the Saviour than any other. Here are the deep counsels of Moses on the various essential expressions of love to God which should be our pursuit, with hindrances and helps – concluding with chapters of immense stature unfolding God’s covenant dealings with His people.
Related Resources
Searching Sanctifying Laws
Continuing John 17:17, ‘Sanctify them through thy truth’, we here review the fifth to the seventh commandments to see the wide application given by Moses and the New Testament, each commandment naming the chief sin of a ‘family’ of offences. This is the path of holiness.
The Kindest Laws in the World
The Law of Helpfulness
Paul first gives the ‘rules’ for kindly correction between believers, then he applies Christ’s ‘new commandment’, the law of mutual love – or burden bearing. Do we really follow this, the kindest of laws? If not, says Paul, we amount to nothing.
The Law of Love
Love is the substance of all the moral law, when it is obeyed by saved hearts full of gratitude to Christ. Here is how it works for each commandment. Here also is how the old fallen nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit are in conflict, and the way sin is to be overcome.