Introduction
The movie highlights God's plan of liberation to the Israelites who are in captivity. The plan is executed by Moses, who discovers of his Hebrew roots during his time at the lawns of the Egypt's pharaoh. Moses realizes that God intends to liberate the Israelites from captivity in Egypt through him. With the help of plagues and other miracles, Moses manages to lead the Israelites out of Egypt crossing the Red Sea. The Israelites face numerous challenges on their way to the Promised Land such as rebellion, idolatry, and lost hope among others before Moses climbs to Mount Sinai to present the Ten Commandments. The discussion will analyze the relationship between God and the Israelites, the reason for the establishment of the Ten Commandments, and how this applies to the contemporary life of the 21 st century.
Relationship between God and the Israelites
From the movie, it is very evident that the hallmark of God’s relationship with the Israelites was the covenant. The covenant was a promise which involved loyalty. The story of Moses and the Ten Commandments focus on how this relationship was always under the threat of distortion as the Israelites lost faith and trust in God. Other than distrust, the Israelites were also disobedient to God. However, God maintained his relationship through his faithfulness. God did not reject his people despite the numerous cases of distrust, disloyalty, and disobedience.
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God established a close relationship with the Israelites during their 40-year journey through the wilderness. The building of the tabernacle was meant to manifest the presence of the Lord. After the tabernacle was built, the presence of God was always depicted by a cloud during the day and fire during the night. Through this, God was establishing a firm relationship that was based on the assurance that his presence was always a source of protection that would see them through the wilderness.
God also stamped his relationship with the Israelites by fighting battles with their enemies. God through Moses was determined to have the Israelites liberated from slavery in Egypt at all costs. He had to throw ten strong judgments to pharaoh to break him so that he could free the Israelites. Pharaoh was resilient until the latest spell which involved the death of every first born human being or animal that Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to leave. The ability of God to fight for the Israelites was depicted when the Egyptians attempted to cross the Red Sea in a bid to bring them back. The Egyptian soldiers and the chariots were all washed up by the sea. Through fighting on their behalf, God was building a strong relationship with them, through building their trust in him especially at times of adversaries.
God enhanced his relationship with the Israelites through putting them into tests and temptations. The tests were meant to build faith, fortitude, resolve, patience, and courage among other qualities that God wanted in the relationship. When the Israelites were hungry, God provided for them manna and milk that could satisfy their hunger. God, through Moses, provided them with water in their wilderness. When the Red Sea looked impossible to cross, God, again through Moses, did a miracle that ensured that they crossed the sea. All these actions were meant to show that God was faithful to his people and expected them to trust and follow his desires.
Reason for the Establishment of the Ten Commandments
After redeeming his people by removing them from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were free and therefore needed a sense of rules to govern their lives in the way of God. The commandments, brought by Moses in stone tablets symbolized the fulfillment of the covenant. According to the events in the movie, Moses went to the mountains to pick the commandments that included the responsibilities and obligations the Israelites had to follow in the act of showing devotion and alienation from sin. The laws were brought so that the Israelites could replicate the God's character and the dangers of performing sin. Moses came down the mountain carrying two stone tablets. However, on seeing the Israelites breaking law by worshipping a golden calf, he shattered one of the stone tablets down. The other tablet was kept in the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a reminder to the people to put God first and that keeping the commandment was more than obeying the laws but also safeguarding the covenant.
How the Principle of Commandments Applies In the Contemporary Life
The Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites first as a sign of fulfillment of the covenant and also as a set of rules to govern them in their life given that they were now free from slavery. Freedom comes with responsibility, and to lead a disciplined life, laws are essential in ensuring people live with restraint. The world, especially in the 21 st century has seen many negativities such as war, injustices, murder, and other forms of crime that result due to lack of clear laws. However, many nations and organizations have attempted to replicate God's action towards the Israelites by coming up with various forms of legislation that define the responsibilities of people and the consequences of noncompliance. They can be in the form of the Constitution, codes of ethic, moral conducts, professional guidelines, and school rules among others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the movie Ten Commandments is a historical representation of events that led to the buildup of freedom to the Israelites and a new life governed by the commandments. The relationship of God with the Israelites is revealed to be a faithful one. The commandments were a sign of the fulfillment of the covenant, and the beginning of a new life characterized by responsibility, restraint, and consequences.
