Exodus 22:7-9 "If a man gives to his neighbour money
or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the
thief is found, he shall pay double. (8) If the thief is not found, the owner of the
house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his
neighbour's property. (9) For every breach of trust, whether it is for
an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing,
of which one says, 'This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before
God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbour.
Much of Exodus 22 has to do with the protection of property from
theft, damage or destruction. God gives to the people of Israel the principles,
laws and practices that should help them to govern their nation and to ensure
that justice is fairly served when the law is transgressed.
If we read through this chapter we see that several of the Ten
Commandments form the foundation of this chapter. We see the first commandment,
and commandments six through ten. The people of Israel are learning what the
upholding, enforcing and wider implications of the law are and what it would
look like on a practical level. The Ten Commandments in some respects are quite
broad, and require further definition and explanation. God in His grace
supplies this additional explanation. From issues dealing with the death of a
person in an act of self-defence, to malicious damage of property by means of
fire, to the protection of property entrusted to us by our neighbour, to the
manner in which we are to use property that we have borrowed, to the treatment
of women, the manner in which those who are sorcerers are to be dealt with, to
those who are sexually immoral. It is very broad, but also specific. In all
these various laws there is call for truthfulness, holiness and the honouring
of God. This would mean that the people Israel would seek to discern and
understand God’s commandments, and how they should live in light of them. Those
who transgress would be dealt with quickly, justly and appropriately. This
would lead to a nation that was functioning well, had a good understand of God
and His Word, sought to honour God by their obedience and had a strong but fair
justice system. It sent out a clear warning to those who sought to defy the law,
those who look for ways around it, a means by which they could justify their
sinful actions, or to blame it on another person, that God will hold them
accountable for their actions.
All these laws and principles are given to us in God’s common grace,
and we should be greatly thankful that He has done this. God knows our hearts
and He knows how prone we are to sin, how we will look for any and every means
to justify or excuse our sin. God also knows how our sin has a wider,
detrimental impact on ourselves and those around us, sin often will lead to
more sin. Thus God in He grace towards us and so as to restrain our sinfulness
gives us these laws to teach us exactly what His law means, how He would have
us live and to the know the many blessings of living in obedience to God. Many
of these laws may not be in existence in our country, and some might not even
apply immediately to us. However, we should not just disregard them, rather we
need to study them, understand them, learning what it is that God requires of
us now as His children in regards to similar matters. These many be ancient
laws, but the truth they teach still stands to this day.
Righteous and Just Father, we thank You
for Your law and for the many ways in which You teach us how to understand and
apply Your law to our lives. We pray for Your forgiveness, as we are often slow
to be obedient, we seek to excuse of justify our sin and fail to walk in
holiness. Give us a greater understanding of Your holiness and wisdom, help us
to love You, Your law and obedience, so that we might honour You in all of our
lives. Amen.
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