I pray all is well with each of you! Keep pushing forward!!
Exodus chapter 21.
Chapter 20 was all about the Ten Commandments. Now in chapter 21 it is about laws that men and women are to follow. They had laws just like we have laws today. If we break the law then we face a consequence. In chapter 21 all these particular laws seem to center around three thoughts:
1. Be responsible with what has been given to you.
2. Take responsibility for wrongdoing or take responsibility for your actions.
3. Respect others and respect their belongings.
If we disrespect a person or their belongings it seems the first thing someone wants to do is NOT take responsibility for their actions. Instead they try and make excuses for their behavior, or even deny that you did any wrong doing. Or better yet, try and blame another person. Such actions is a poor testimony for the Lord. The best thing is to take responsibility and take the consequences that come with it and do it respectfully and people will respect you for your honesty, then your testimony will not be so damaged.
some pretty heavy duty rules.
17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.”
I am going to call my mom and dad tonight and remind them how much i love them.
thanks again PB for motivating me.
While the Laws of Moses may seem harsh to us, God’s family was fresh from slavery in Egypt and would be surrounded by pagans. In these laws, God revealed His heart to His people. He gives them detailed instructions on applying the 10 commandments to their lives. This sets them apart from all the other cultures around them.
Through these case laws, the Jewish people understood God was fair and cared about their everyday life. I need to remind myself that He is interested in the small details in my life that I think I shouldn’t bother Him with. He loves us; He wants us to bring it all to Him. Thank you, Jesus!
I have to admit getting through this chapter was difficult for me. I have a hard time with thinking about killing and dying so to hear about it all throughout this chapter left my stomach a bit uneasy! Stoning and goring… I also felt discouraged by the laws against slaves being less strict. I know this was a completely different time period than we are currently living in, but it makes me sad in my heart to think about slaves (still human beings) as being of less worth than someone who is not a slave. This is where the Bible and it’s teachings get a little murky to me. If slaves were people still created by God, why were they of less value?
It also causes me to reflect and think about all people in the world and how I need to pray for those who are faced with oppression and hardships. It’s easy to focus on my small, day to day problems, when people in the world are in extreme suffering. All life has value and I need to take the time to remember and pray for people who are struggling.
We read about more rules in chapter 21. I’m reminded of how the Israelites had such a different culture than our own today and how slavery had been such a big part of their lives. God was specific with them and established what was expected to be done in many different situations.