Thanks for your comments!
Exodus chapter 22. Once again we see laws that are made demonstrating how important it is to show respect to other people and their belongings. A key thought that I got from this is how important it is to make restitution when something is destroyed because of my actions or my negligence. What I find interesting is restitution that was made was above and beyond the value of that which was destroyed or taken from another person. I pondered why that was so? So I came up with some thoughts as to why.
1. Perhaps it was meant to deter future problems. If I know I have to pay back above and beyond the value then hopefully I'll think twice about my actions.
2. Perhaps it's a way of showing extra respect for someone I obviously did not show respect to before.
3. Perhaps it's a way of showing that I'm taking responsibility for my actions and hopefully will result in mending a broken relationship. Because perhaps when they see how mature I was in handling my bad choices, that their respect for me will be regained despite what I did wrong.
Regardless, make right what is wronged. And
People want to feel respected and need to be treated with respect.
We read in this chapter more about what has to happen for certain crimes or mistakes that are made and what actions are to be taken. Nestled in there in verse 27 is a great reminder that God is compassionate. He cares about His people and all the details of their lives.
My bible has this chapter is broken down into 2 parts
The first part is the Protection of Property
what struck me after reading the passages the last couple days was the importance of animals.
The second have is about Social Responsibility
18 “Do not allow a sorceress to live….. (seems reasonable enough)
22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.
God loves the children and is close to the brokenhearted. (dont mess with the widows either)
28 “Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.[g]29 “You must give me the firstborn of your sons. 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
i had to do a google search to understand this verse.
Thank you Blair, Jim, and Brian for your comments on these chapters. These ones like I said are a bit trickier for me to grasp. I agree with you Blair, perhaps knowing the consequence will be two fold the crime, people will think twice before doing wrong against one another. Respect and penance is important. I hold onto some wrongs I have done in my past… lots of guilt can eat away at me. It may be the punishment/consequence for what I have done.