Judgments and Statutes

God then called Moses up into the mountain, and gave him "judgements", which Moses carefully wrote down. His great Law, the Ten Commandments, was the constitution of God's government-unchangeable and universal. The "judgments" and "statutes" given to Moses were specific policies to uphold equal justice in the community. Today, statutes are framed to deal with individual situations where it may not be clear as to how to deal with a particular law. But these statutes always fall within the confines of the constitution. For example, in George Washington's day there were no laws dealing with speed limits for we had no automobiles. Later, laws dealing with speed limits were made. Then, when it was seen that the legal speeds were causing accidents, these laws were changed to protect the community.

This is an example of the statutes God gave to Moses:

EXO 21:33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; 34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.

After giving Moses the statues, God ended His conversation with His promise to deliver the people into Canaan and all the blessings of prosperity, IF they obeyed His commands. He had proposed a contract, or covenant, with the children of Israel. Moses, as the liason between God and the people, would present the terms of the contract to the people. Then they would decide if they accepted or declined.

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