The Decalogue as a Transitional Model for Fear

God’s original intention for relationships was disrupted by the fall of man as recorded in Genesis 3. From that point, fear of man played an intricate role in both interpersonal relationships and decision-making. The purpose of the Decalogue was to moderate relationships among the people and with their God. However, there is an additional purpose as well. The Decalogue serves as a transitional model from fear of man to fear of the Lord. When God’s people live according to the precedents found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 their lifestyle no longer follows the pattern set by fallen humanity. Both passages open with the same directive, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2-3 and Deuteronomy 5:6-7, ESV). Placing this first determines priority, reminding the people that it was Yahweh who saved them from a lifestyle of slavery and also tells them how to walk in a relationship with him. These statements form the foundation on which the other commandments are built. When the first commandment is a priority, the other will naturally follow. Choosing to live according to the Decalogue supplies a directive for morality in interaction, overriding the fear of man and forming a lifestyle based upon the fear of the Lord.