Yes, God's instructions to Israel at Mount Sinai were completely unique in human history.
According to Les Feldick, at Mount Sinai God gave Israel the written Law—the Ten Commandments, the ritualistic law, the priesthood, and the tabernacle—something that had never been given to any other people before. This was the first time God provided a written set of rules for behavior and an organized system of worship. It also established Israel as His peculiar treasure through a conditional covenant.
Exodus 19:5 — This verse reveals the conditional covenant that made Israel God's peculiar treasure, setting them apart from all nations.
In Exodus 19, after Israel was brought out of Egypt and camped at Mount Sinai, God told Moses to speak to the children of Israel, saying, "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine." (Exodus 19:5). This was a conditional promise based on their obedience. In the following chapter, God gave the Ten Commandments, and then He gave the laws concerning the tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrifices. These instructions were entirely new—never before had God given a written law or an organized system of worship.
Les Feldick emphasizes that at Mount Sinai, God initiated a completely new arrangement with Israel. He points out that for the first time in human history, God gave a written set of commands (the Law) and established a priesthood and tabernacle worship. This was a unique time when God turned His back on the other nations and dealt exclusively with Israel, setting them apart as His peculiar treasure. The Law was given in three parts: the moral law (Ten Commandments), the ecclesiastical law (worship and priesthood), and the civil law (rules for dealing with each other). Les also stresses that God's instructions were conditional on Israel's obedience.
Les Feldick teaches that the Law was given to Israel at Mount Sinai and consisted of three parts: the moral law (Ten Commandments), the ecclesiastical law (worship and priesthood), and the civil law (social rules). He explains that God gave these instructions to make Israel conscious of His holiness and sovereignty, and to prepare them for their role as His chosen people while surrounded by pagan nations. The Law was unique because it had never been given to any other nation before.
Les Feldick points out that before Mount Sinai, there was no written set of divine commands for humanity. The giving of the Law to Israel was unprecedented. He states that God turned His back on all other nations and dealt exclusively with Israel, giving them the Ten Commandments, the ritualistic law, the priesthood, and the tabernacle. This covenant was conditional, as seen in Exodus 19:5, where God said 'if ye will obey my voice indeed... then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me.'
Why God Chose Abraham: Israel's Purpose Finally Explained
Genesis chapter 46. Now time has gone by, but it's still within that time frame of the prophecy. That was 430 years, and within that time frame now, Israel has become a nation, they're in slavery in Egypt, Joseph has come to the top of the government, and you all know the story of Joseph and his grain, and Jacob is over there in the Negev, which is desert, and he's about to starve to death.
The Conditional Covenant at Sinai
Les explains that in Exodus 19, God gave Israel a conditional promise—if they obeyed His voice and kept His covenant, they would be His peculiar treasure above all people.
The Three Parts of the Law
Les breaks down the Law given at Sinai into three parts: moral, ecclesiastical, and civil, showing the comprehensive nature of God's instructions to Israel.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
Go all the way back to Exodus chapter 19, and come down to verse 7. Here the children of Israel have just recently been brought out of Egypt, and they're all encamped around Mount Sinai. Moses has gone up into Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments and the Law from the Lord Himself. Verse 7, "...
The Law and the Priesthood
Les teaches that in addition to the Ten Commandments, God added rituals, regulations, and priesthood stipulations, and gave instructions for building the tabernacle.
Israel as a Peculiar Treasure
Les highlights Exodus 19:5 as a benchmark verse, emphasizing the conditional 'if' that made Israel's special status dependent on their obedience.
Unprecedented Nature of the Law
Les stresses that the Law given at Sinai was completely new in human history—never before had God given written criteria for behavior or an organized system of worship.
Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)
But they got the intellectual world, with all of their intelligence and with all of their education, poo-pooing the Scripture, and so what does man say? Well, now really, how can I believe this? That's unbelief, see? And this is what gets to the very heart of God. All right, back, if you will, now then, to Exodus. So God is preparing the nation of Israel.
Exodus 19:5: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
This verse introduces the conditional covenant that makes Israel distinct as God's chosen people.
Exodus 20:1-17: And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me...
The giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai—the moral law—was a unique event in human history.
No. According to Les Feldick, before Mount Sinai, no human race had ever been given a written set of divine commands. The Law was given exclusively to Israel, setting them apart from all other nations.
Les Feldick teaches that the Law consisted of three parts: the moral law (Ten Commandments), the ecclesiastical law (worship and priesthood), and the civil law (rules for dealing with each other).
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chose Abraham: Israel's Purpose Finally Explained