Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Joseph and Moses

What did Joseph, in Egypt, say when tempted to sin? BR-ASI9 260.11

“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. BR-ASI9 260.12

Before giving the law at Sinai, how did God rebuke the people for going out to gather manna on the seventh day? BR-ASI9 260.13

“And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws?” Exodus 16:28. BR-ASI9 260.14

Had the Lord previously spoken of the Sabbath? BR-ASI9 260.15

“This is that which the Lord hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath.” Exodus 16:23. BR-ASI9 260.16

Before coming to Sinai, what had Moses taught Israel? BR-ASI9 260.17

“When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God and His laws.” Exodus 18:16. BR-ASI9 260.18

Note.—All this shows that the law of God existed from the beginning, and was known and taught in the world before it was proclaimed at Sinai. BR-ASI9 260.19

“We should not suppose that the Ten Commandments were entirely new enactments when they were proclaimed from Sinai, for the Hebrew word torah is used in such previous passages of the Old Testament as Genesis 26:5; Exodus 12:49; Genesis 35:2 and 13:9; 16:4, 28; 18:16, 20. [Genesis 4:26; 14:22; 31:53 are cited for the principle of the third; Genesis 2:3 and Exodus 16:22-30 for the fourth; Genesis 9:6, for the sixth; and Genesis 2:24, for the seventh.] The decalogue may therefore be regarded as the full and solemn declaration of duties which had been more or less revealed previously, and this public enunciation took place under absolutely unique circumstances. We are told that ‘the ten words’ were spoken by God’s own voice (Exodus 20:1; Deuteronomy 5:4, 22-26); and twice afterwards ‘written on tables of stone with the finger of God’ (Exodus 24:12; 31:18; 32:16; 34:1, 28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 5:22; 9:10; 10:1-4), thus appealing alike to the ear and eye, and emphasizing both their supreme importance and permanent obligation.”—William C. Procter, Moody Bible Institute Monthly (Copyrighted), October, 1933, p. 49. Used by permission. BR-ASI9 260.20