Chapter Three – The First Commandment — “No Other Gods Before Me”

The earth trembled as God began to speak. Moses later recorded, “And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME” (Ex. 20:1-3). This is the FIRST COMMANDMENT.

The Bible reveals that this was not God the Father, but the LORD (YHWH, meaning the “Ever Living One” or “Eternal”)—the Spokesman who later became Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14).

The lightning, thunder, trumpet blast and earthquake that accompanied the receiving of the Ten Commandments were intended for a purpose: “And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that you sin not” (Ex. 20:20). As the people heard God’s voice, they were ready to be obedient to every word. Yet history records that the memory of this event quickly faded from their minds.

The Only Place to Start

The all-important First Commandment establishes Who it was that gave these laws to ancient Israel in the wilderness. This command must be firmly established in your mind from the outset of your thinking about the Ten Commandments. When understood in its fullest context, it lies at the heart of all religion.

Surely, if the Bible is the inspired INSTRUCTION BOOK of an all-wise and all-powerful Creator God, who was also the only true God in the universe, His first commandment could not have been otherwise. Under no circumstances would that God want other gods worshipped in His place. In fact, in the very next commandment, the Author of these laws describes Himself as “a jealous God.”

The God of the Bible leaves no room for doubt in the first four commandments. He expects to be worshipped as He is. He allows no room for confusion and does not want human opinion added—He accepts no substitution of the false for the true.

In fact, related to this, we can at least briefly reference the later discussed Fourth Commandment in an important context. The evolutionist has a big problem trying to explain belief in a God who created all life on earth in six days. Having rejected the Creation account of this God, it becomes much easier to go on to the next step—the very rejection of that God, and possibly the idea that there even is a God! Of course, faithful Sabbath observance every seven days would eliminate this problem.

(Though this is a separate element of the subject, you should also take time to prove that, in fact, there IS a God. Consider reading our informative booklet Does God Exist?, as well as our thorough, illustrated brochure Evolution – Facts, Fallacies and Implications. Unlike anything you have read, these help establish a foundation on which to confidently build a right relationship with God. Also note that a page recommending additional literature is included for the purpose of making the reader aware of material that greatly expands related subjects that cannot be as thoroughly discussed in this volume. At times, helpful literature will be referenced within the text.)

Begin With the Fear of the Lord

The First Commandment is the most basic requirement for beginning to understand God’s truth and to fulfil our ultimate purpose. All humanity is warned to put God first, and to avoid false gods. The Being who issued that FIRST and GREAT commandment rephrased it in Matthew 22:37.

Notice: “Jesus said unto him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” In this New Testament passage, Christ was essentially quoting the very words that He inspired in Deuteronomy 6:5!

The message of putting God first should ring loud and clear. Proverbs 9:10 tells all who will listen, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Psalms 111:10 adds, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endures for ever.”

Only by putting God first (in every area—worship, obedience and goals in life), is sound judgment and understanding accessible. King Solomon wrote, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things” (Prov. 28:5). Another key proverb is Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Further notice Job 28:28: “And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

Repetition is the best method to get a point across. The message of these scriptures should echo in our minds, just as God’s voice echoed to Israel when He thundered these commandments.

Without starting in the right direction, everyone will ultimately reach the wrong destination. The First Commandment points mankind in the right direction from the very beginning. Notice what Paul observed concerning those who left God out of the picture: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:21-22). Getting it right from the beginning is crucial. Also notice: “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jer. 8:9).

Another way of putting God first is portrayed in Matthew 6:31-34. Notice this: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles [all non-Israelites] seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” We can rely on this absolute promise—God always keeps His word.

Here is another vital key. Matthew 6:33 talks about seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness. But what is righteousness? Recall Psalm 119:172 defined it: “My tongue shall speak of Your word: for ALL YOUR COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Certainly this means that we should OBEY these commandments!