Pastor Joel Engel explored the scene at Mount Sinai to reveal an essential aspect of the Ten Commandments: more than rules, they represent God’s invitation to an intimate relationship with His people. This message was shared during a recent sermon.

Drawing from the Talmud, Engel explained that the Tablets of the Covenant given to Moses were not as popularly imagined – with rounded tops – but were two square blocks of stone, approximately 54 centimeters in height and thickness. Moreover, the content of the tablets went beyond what was visible to the naked eye.

“The Torah states that the words were ‘inscribed on both sides’ (Exodus 32:15). This means the engraving went completely through the stone. The writing was visible and legible from either side,” he said.

According to the pastor, this supernatural inscription underscores the power of God’s Word. It was not only heard – but also seen.

“At Sinai, God spoke to thousands, yet addressed each person individually: ‘I am the Lord your God.’ The Lord presented Himself personally to each of His children,” he emphasized.

Engel also shared insights about the origin of the second set of tablets, created after Moses shattered the first upon witnessing the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. According to him, the new tablets were quarried from a sapphire mine revealed by God Himself.

“The tablets were made of sapphire, a precious and valuable stone. After the first set was broken, God revealed to Moses a deposit of sapphire beneath his tent. Moses used part of the stone to carve the second tablets and kept the remainder – which may have been the source of his personal wealth,” he explained.

As Exodus 34:1 implies, God “showed him a quarry of sapphire and said: ‘The leftovers will be yours.’” Engel further highlighted Moses as an example of someone who did not seek material reward, but simply wanted to please the Lord: “God values people like Moses. He only wanted to please God. With him, God spoke face to face – because Moses was always ready to seek the Lord.”

Commandments or Revelations?

For Pastor Engel, the greatest mistake when reading the Ten Commandments is seeing them solely as prohibitions. He points out that, according to Jewish tradition, the first commandment is not an order – but a revelation of God’s identity and love.

“The First Commandment is not an order; it is a revelation,” he emphasizes.

Engel explains there is a meaningful difference between how the commandments are understood in Jewish tradition compared to the Western Christian perspective:

“The Christian view of Exodus 20:3: ‘You shall have no other gods before Me’, focuses on the prohibition of idolatry, shaped by the Roman context, which was saturated with gods and pagan practices.”

The jewish view of Exodus 20:2: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” is “God reveals Himself as a liberator – someone who desires to be known, not just obeyed.”

He elaborates: “The view we receive in Christianity emphasizes worshiping only the true God—that is, avoiding idolatry. But in the Jewish understanding Moses received, the people are invited to know God as their deliverer.”

613 Commandments, One Goal

According to Engel, Jewish tradition recognizes 613 commandments in the Torah – 248 positive (“do this”) and 365 negative (“do not do this”). However, he emphasizes that Jesus brought a deeper understanding of faith.

“Jesus came to teach us that eternal life is not simply about fulfilling all the commandments, but about knowing God.” In other words, the goal isn’t merely rulefollowing, but entering a continual relationship with the Creator. 

For Engel, what most touches God’s heart is this: “What pleases God most is that you know Him.”

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