God’s Command

Today is Maundy Thursday. Many people are not aware of what Maundy means. In Latin word, mandatum, means command or mandate. Two themes are prevalent on this day. One is Jesus washing the disciples feet and then commanding them to follow His example. The other one focuses on Holy Communion, and Jesus commands that we “do this as often as we eat and drink Him”. When we think of the Mosaic Covenant, we think of Moses going up on top of Mount Sinai, meeting with God, and bringing the 10 commandments down with him. The people all promised that they would follow everything that God was commanding of them. A few verses before the commandments are given, Exodus 19:5-6, we read, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." Not only is there a call to obedience, but to keep God’s covenant. If we do, God claims us as His treasured possession. We often think calling someone our possession is abusive, or at the very least too authoritative. When God calls us His treasured possession, it gives us a preferred status, belonging to Him. By this point, God has rescued them from the Egyptians and showed His mighty power. They are still alive because God has taken them as His own. Like a child with a favorite toy doesn’t want to share it with anyone else, we are that precious people in His sight. God declares, “I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other God’s before me." He is a jealous God that doesn’t want to share His glory or us with other powers and authorities. The difference is that His glory cannot be taken from Him, but we can, and sometimes do, walk away from Him. Good commands are not something to avoid, but to rejoice that God has laid out ways that His people, living in community with one another, can function well and live at peace with one another. We may not live as a community, the way they functioned, but we still need those rules and directions for daily living. It is usually when we walk away from God’s directions and law that we find ourselves in trouble. Love God, then love each other. Father, Your commands are not burdensome. They lead us nearer to Your heart. Help us to walk according to Your will. Amen