Holding on towards my goal, no matter what the cost...Quality rather than quantity, yes?

-Love, GinniePark

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Memory Verse of the Week:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name." - Exodus 20:7

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Making Things Right - Exodus 21:28-36

Irresponsibility Costs

28: "If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible."

29: "If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death."

30: "However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded."

31: "This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter."

32: "If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death."

 

Taking the Blame

33: "If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or donkey falls into it,"

34: "the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange."

35: "If anyone's bull injures someone else's bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally."

36: "However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange."

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Reflection

Irresponsibility Costs (21:28-32)

Today's passage highlights the importance of responsible living and the costs of living irresponsibly. Here a man is killed by a bull. If this is the first incident for the bull, then the bull's owner is not responsible. If, however, the bull's owner knew of the animal's tendency to gore people but did nothing to keep it under control, then the owner is at fault; he is to be killed along with his animal. He is equally to blame for the death of the man, which shows how much God's law weights both intent and responsibility.

Good laws hold people to their responsibilities, and bad laws absolve people of their responsibilities. Some nations exonerate people of crimes they committed while being intoxicated, stating that their condition made them not responsible for the crime. However, "not responsible" is very different from "irresponsible." Two wrongs do not make a right.

 

Taking the Blame (21:33-36)

Another part of being responsible is owning up to the mistakes that you have made. If someone created a condition that led to the injury or death of another person or animal, the creator of the situation is responsible. An example of such a scenario is given in verses 33-34. A modern-day example would be if a customer slipped and fell on a wet floor in a restaurant, then the restaurant would be responsible for having created or allowed the wet-floor condition.

The principle in verses 35-36 is that if one person causes the destruction of another person's property, then the first person must take the blame and pay for what was destroyed. It is the same as the "you break it, you pay it" policy that stores have today. God helps property owners by making sure they do not lose out on cases of accidental destruction. This also helps us to be better stewards overall.

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Application

-If we live in a society, we must care about how our actions and inactions affect other people. Not to care would be hypocritical because we would obviously want people to care about us. God's laws remind us to care about others.

-If we are wronged, we should forgive the one who wronged us just as Christ forgave us. But if we wrong someone else, we should not presume to be forgiven. Rather, we should make restitution in spirit of humility.

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"Endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others, for thou hast many faults and imperfections of thy own that require a reciprocation of forbearance."

-Thomas a Kempis.

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Sin Gored Our Savior

God's Law really leaves no stone unturned. He addresses every issue that could ever need addressing; even death by animal. Animals, and not their owners, were meant to be killed for the death of a person. This passage helps clarify Exodus 21:24, which the world refers to as "an eye for an eye." In God's wisdom, He firmly prevents blame for being passed beyond the actual prepertrator.

These laws were not given to show us where to start in exacting justice, but where to stop! God's laws focus on loving God and people; above all, that is what we're called to do. God's desire is not to punish us, but rather to love us and have a relationship with us. That is why Christ died on the cross: so that our sins might die, and we might live! As Christ was dying on the cross, He quoted Psalm 22 (see Matt. 27:46). Although not quoted in Matthew, a later portion of that same Psalm 22 states, "Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen" (v.21).

If the devil can be compared to a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8), then Thomas Walton compares sin to an ox. "Under the Law, if an ox gored a man so that he died - the ox was to be killed, Exodus 21:28. Sin has gored and pierced our Savior! Let it die! Let us be deeply affected with the great love of Christ for us. Who can tread upon these hot coals - and his heart not burn? Cry with ignatius, 'Christ, my love, is crucified!'" So what killed Jesus: us or sin? Watson emphatetically declares that sin killed Jesus! So then, we raise our battle cry: Sin must die!

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A Letter to God

Heavenly Father, thank You for being so patient and forgiving with me.

Help me to be just as patient and forgiving of others.

May I not assign blame but extend grace to those who wrong me.

And may I fix all my wrongs with others to make them right. In Jesus' name. Amen.