“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.”
— Exodus 20:2 (CSB)
Before God ever said, “You shall not,” He said, “I have brought you out.”
That single statement unlocks one of the most essential patterns in all of Scripture: one that shows us the true nature of grace.
The Rationale Behind This Week’s Posts
The end of last week was marked by a couple of down days for me. I did some reading from Rubel Shelly’s new book on Hell.1 While I am not through it all yet, I have a feeling I will most certainly disagree with his conclusion on eternal torment. But the early chapters of it have some great content on free will, predestination, and grace. The idea for what I’m writing this week is actually based on a simple paragraph in which he speaks of the pursuing God who always acts to save before he calls on His redeemed ones to follow through in compliance. This got me thinking of how this pattern is seen throughout the Bible—and it is something we should take note of.
So, this week, we will journey through the pages of Scripture — from Noah to David to Hosea, and finally to Christ Himself — to see a truth that reshapes how we think about faith and obedience.
The pattern is simple, but powerful: God acts first. We respond.
Grace always comes before law.
Deliverance always comes before duty.
Relationship always comes before responsibility.
This, I believe, is the heartbeat of the gospel. When we forget this order, we slip into legalism and spiritual exhaustion, trying to earn what God has already given. But when we remember that obedience is a response to grace, not a requirement for it, faith becomes joyful again.
This series — Grace Before Obedience: How God Always Acts First — is about rediscovering this principle. Every day this week, we’ll look at a different story that reveals God’s initiative and human response:
Tuesday: Noah — Grace on Dry Ground
Wednesday: David — Who Am I, O Lord?
Thursday: Hosea — Loved Before Returning
Friday: Jesus — Deliverance Before Discipleship
Each story sings the same song: God moves toward us before we ever move toward Him.
Grace at Sinai
Before Israel ever heard, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” they heard, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out.” God didn’t meet His people at Sinai to offer a contract; He came to declare a covenant of love rooted in rescue. This matters because Sinai isn’t first about commands — it’s about identity, memory, and mercy.
Before the law was spoken,
Blood had already been shed (Passover)
Redemption had already occurred
The enemy had already been defeated
The people had already walked through the waters
The Lord was already dwelling among them (pillar of cloud and fire)
Israel stood at Sinai as a redeemed people, not as applicants hoping to be accepted. God did not say:
“If you keep these commands, then I will be your God.”
He said:
“I am your God — therefore walk with Me.”
His commands flowed from His commitment, not the other way around.
Redemption Establishes Relationship. Relationship establishes responsibility.
This keeps the law from becoming a ladder and reveals it as a life-giving guide for a rescued people. It was never meant to drag them into fear but to draw them into fellowship. Sinai is where God says:
“You are Mine — now here is how My people live.”
And notice how He frames their calling:
“You will be My treasured possession… a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
(Exodus 19:5–6)
God wasn’t creating slaves; He was forming a people of purpose, dignity, and inheritance. They weren’t keeping the law to become God’s people — They were keeping the law because they already were.
This pattern shows up repeatedly throughout the Old Testament … and it is the gospel pattern as well.
Sinai and the Christian Life
Every Christian has a “Passover” moment: We place our trust in the blood of the Lamb that saves us. We have a “Red Sea” moment: baptism through water into new life and freedom (1 Cor. 10:1–2; Colossians 2:12-15). And then, like Israel, we meet God in covenant fellowship and are taught how to live for Him.
Our obedience doesn’t create salvation; it flows from salvation. Our holiness doesn’t earn His love; it responds to His love. So when we see Sinai from this perspective, we don’t see a cold mountain of law — we see a blazing mountain of grace: A God who rescues first. A God who speaks second. A God who forms a people not by merit, but by mercy.
Why We Need This Today
I have met many Christians who live as if God is standing at the top of the mountain, arms crossed, waiting to see if we perform well enough to climb to Him.
But the real story of Sinai is a God who came down to His people. A God who had already carried them “on eagles’ wings” (Ex. 19:4). A God whose commands are not chains, but invitations to walk in freedom.
Grace doesn’t lower the standard — it lifts the sinner.
Sinai is not where grace ends; it’s where grace begins to shape a life.
The Difference This Makes
When we reverse the order, faith becomes heavy. We try to perform our way into God’s favor, fearing we’ll never measure up. But when we understand that God’s love precedes our obedience, everything changes. We stop striving for acceptance and start living from acceptance. Obedience becomes an act of gratitude, not guilt. Holiness becomes our joyful response to a God who has already called us through His gospel.
This is why Jesus’ invitation still resounds with power:
“Follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19)
He didn’t say, “Fix your life first, then follow.” He said, “Follow Me,” and then began the work of transformation. Deliverance before discipleship — the same pattern we saw at Sinai.
For You Today
Maybe you’ve been feeling like your faith is a constant performance review, you know, one more test you have to pass to stay on God’s good side. Friend, remember: God’s grace is what brought you out of slavery, not your flawless obedience. You are His child because of His mercy, not your merit.
He calls you to obey, yes, but from a place of belonging, not bargaining. So today, rest in the truth that God has already done the saving work. Let obedience be the overflow of your gratitude. Let worship be the expression of your freedom.
Looking Ahead
This week, we’ll see how this same pattern unfolds again and again:
Noah found grace before he ever built the ark.
David received God’s promise before he offered anything in return.
Hosea loved an unfaithful wife before she ever came home.
And in Christ, God rescued us while we were still sinners.
Every covenant, every story, every act of redemption begins with God’s initiative.
And it always ends with the same call: “Now walk with Me.”
Are you obeying to earn God’s favor, or because you already have it?
Today, remember Sinai’s order:
Grace first.
Law second.
Deliverance before duty.
Because our God always acts first.
Check out Rubel’s companion book on Heaven too.