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Exodus 20:22-26
22And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’

After delivering the 10 Commandments God expands our understanding of His sovereign place as our only God. All around them the Children of Israel find people groups who worship their gods by building statuary out of gold and silver. These “graven images” became the focus of their worship lives. He also sets forth instructions for a very simple altar made of earth and stone. For now, this altar is exquisitely simple lest the people are moved to worship the altar itself. And while the injunction against a set of stairs seems odd because in walking up them the priest’s genitals might be exposed God helps the people see once again that He is holy and nothing should be allowed to distract the people from thinking of Him alone. God calls His people to something different. God always calls us to something different. What does He call you to today that is set apart for Him alone?

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