A CAREFUL study of the history of the children of Israel shows that each of their many and varying experiences has its parallel in some form in the progress of any advancing Christian; and we are brought to the conclusion that Moses, the great leader of this people, who lived so close to God, who spoke with God so directly, face to face, that "the skin of his face shone," has recorded the steps of his own advancement in the life of a nation. These people were so near to him that they could receive the light in a degree; and this uplifting influence became such a power that they were ready to accept the higher spiritual laws of government, even though to many of them these could mean but a higher standard of human living. Moses could speak to the people only in language which they could understand. A few, however, caught the higher vision. Gleaming through all their history, from their departure out of the land of bondage to their entrance into Canaan, this spiritual light is seen. And the discernment of this gives value to the study of the Ten Commandments, and helps to unfold their great significance to mankind in all ages. It is their spiritual vitality that has made them operative as law in human consciousness for so many centuries.
The Commandments were given at a time of spiritual illumination. Because of Moses' humility and obedience, he had reached a height where more of God's truth was revealed to him. The record, as given in Exodus, states that God called Moses to the top of the mount; that he, Moses, was on the mount forty days and forty nights; and that the children of Israel came near to the mount. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 200) that Moses advanced this people "to the worship of God in Spirit instead of matter;" and it was from this height of spiritual vision that there came the culmination of his hope for them,—that utterance of Spirit known as the Mosaic Decalogue.
Moses longed to lift the people to see God; and he recognized that their immediate need was to begin to destroy their love of materiality. In language carrying the authority and power of the Almighty came the thundering condemnation of material sense, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me;" and then on to and through the commandment beginning, "Thou shalt not covet." The Ten Commandments were the sternest rebuke to their materiality, and roused them to the attainment of a better state. In this brief code we find the essentials of all Scriptural teaching; namely, the necessity of gaining spiritual consciousness,—the way out of matter into Spirit. And this is the vital message which these Commandments hold for us.
