The Ten Commandments at Sinai

Israel arrives at Mount Sinai and God makes them an offer that will define everything — be my people, my treasured possession, a kingdom of priests. Then he shows up in fire, smoke, and thunder so overwhelming the entire nation trembles. This is the moment everything becomes real.

God shows up on Mount Sinai and speaks directly to an entire nation. The Ten Commandments cover everything from who you worship to what you wish you had — and the experience is so overwhelming that the people beg Moses to be the go-between.

Right after the Ten Commandments, God gave Israel the practical rules for daily life — starting exactly where you'd expect for a nation of former slaves. These laws about servanthood, violence, and accountability were unlike anything the ancient world had ever seen.

God gets into the practical details of life together — how to handle theft, settle disputes, protect the powerless, and build a society where nobody gets exploited. These aren't arbitrary rules. They're a blueprint for what justice looks like when God is the one defining it.

God gets specific about what it means to be his people — from courtroom integrity and caring for your enemy to Sabbath rest, annual festivals, and a promise that he'll personally clear the road ahead of them.