As we study these laws of Moses, we must ask ourselves what was the purpose of the Law. Why did God give them? Here are four thoughts:
He wanted to give His people His standard for morality, which is ‘other’s centered’. They were heavily influence by their world environment, which was mostly ‘self-centered.’ Things have not changed in our modern culture. God wanted His people to be distinct, to stand apart from the society of Egypt and Canaan.
He wanted to give them an understanding of what sin was. His people needed to know they had a need for forgiveness, and ultimately a need for a Savior.
God wanted to reveal His Divine Holiness to a people who had unique privileges bestowed upon them for a fulfillment of a high calling. He didn’t want them to become presumptive and take lightly their mission, or Him. He wanted them to understand just who they were dealing with- and it was not the flawed, self-serving gods of the Egyptian and Canaanite culture.
God wanted to give His people a manner in which to express their love and faith in Him. Doing what God wants when you don’t want to do it is a very practical way to display your faith in God through your obedience. Without any laws, how will your faith really be expressed? Doing something desired by another, with no expectation of anything in return, is a pure expression of love. Knowing what God wants you to do in a situation which will not necessarily bring you any pleasure, gives God great pleasure. It’s a personal expression of love.
