The descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel left Egypt under Moses leadership. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years before they entered the promised land. During the trek to the promised land God gave Moses Ten Commandments for the people to follow. The first two commandments God sets rules regarding their relationship with Him.
““20 And God spake all these words, saying, “2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:1-6 King James Version
By this He meant that He alone is their God and non-other. The world around them had many of gods, but not the God of heaven, Yahweh.
Yahweh provided daily food, manna and quail, for them to eat. He provided water. Their clothing and shoes did not wear out. He delivered them from the cruel bondage of Egypt and took care of their needs.
Repeatedly the descendants of Jacob would drift into idol worship and then return to the one true God.
“12 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” 2 Chronicles 12:1 King James Version
“Because of the rebellion of Israel Shishak king of Egypt invaded Judah and took control of the fortified cities. As a result, Israel’s princes acknowledged God saying, “the Lord is righteous.”” 2 Chronicles 12:6 KJV
“7 When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves, so I will not destroy them; and I will grant them a little deliverance, and My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak. 8 But they will become his slaves, so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”” 2 Chronicles 12:7-8 New American Standard Bible
The words difference and between in the previous paragraph, I believe, are italicized because they were added for readability in the NASB.
Today we have a choice to serve Yahweh or ourselves and others. Serving others is often seen as a benefit in getting ahead in this life. We put ourselves first to gain power, prestige, money, wealth, and material things. Seeking these things puts us in bondage to them. They become idols to us. To attain these things, we sacrifice what is truly meaningful in life.
When you love God and serve him, you realize that power, prestige, money wealth, and material things are temporary, they can be gone in a second. Relationship with God is eternal. Serving Him and doing His will is the most important thing in life. Teaching others about Him and Jesus His son is His will. He wants all people to come to Him and share eternal life with Him. Eternal life is a gift bought and paid for through the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus’ resurrection proves that there is life beyond what we experience in the world. There is no other way to Yahweh, God the Father, but through Jesus Christ.
Then Jacob’s descendants served God, He took care of them. When they chose to follow idols, and fleshly desires, He corrected them and withdrew His protection.
Whom we serve is our choice. “15 “See, I have placed before you today life and [a]happiness, and death and [b]adversity, 16 in that I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, so that you may live and become numerous, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you will certainly perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter [c]and take possession of it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your [d]descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding close to Him; for [e]this is your life and the length of your days, [f]so that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”” Deuteronomy 30:15-20 New American Standard Bible
“15 But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 New American Standard Bible
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