Where do you believe our American laws come from originally? In today’s Bible study lesson from Exodus 21:1-36, God sets the servants and personal injury law for Israel – and us!
After the Ten Commandments were written and given to the people of Israel, God became very specific in how the law was to be used in specific situations.
This commandment explains the servants and personal injury law God laid down to protect the people.
You may want to read all the laws from 1-36. I believe you’ll find them very interesting.
It’s amazing at how closely our US constitution follows God’s laws. Or, at least it did when it was first drawn.
Read these verses from the Bible below about actions and how consequences follow.
God Sets the Servants and Personal Injury Law in Exodus
“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.
If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.
“He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
“He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.
“He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
“If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but remains in bed, if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his loss of time, and shall take care of him until he is completely healed.” – Exodus 21:12-19 NASB
God Shows Cause and Effect in His Personal Injury Law
In this section of Exodus, God establishes a nation.
He knew that a country without a code to live by would remain in chaos. So, He became very specific when instructing Israel about how to behave as a people.
Many of these instructions closely resemble what our forefathers wrote when they established the laws of the United States.
We still live under the basics of the Ten Commandments today when it comes to crime and punishment.
Servants Laws
He set aside laws governing the way slaves (yes, Hebrews had slaves) were acquired, treated, and/or freed under certain terms.
Now, lets clarify. The people of Israel enslaved their own people after they had themselves come from bondage.
But, let’s take a look at some of the reasons people became slaves…
- Poverty – If a man sank into deep poverty and could no longer support his family, he might become a slave for security. According to verse two; he would only serve for six years and then be free.
- Debt – Becoming a slave to pay back a debt was not uncommon.
- Crime – Committing an act against another which hurt them financially was cause for enslavement in some cases.
Slavery is not encouraged but the Bible does acknowledge its existence.
Ahh.. “An Eye for an Eye.. ” – Crime and Punishment
No, there was no barbaric ritual of plucking out the eyes of a person who caused another to lose his.
This statement, and the ones which follow, simply says the punishment should fit the crime.
This part of the law worked to prevent the tortuous conduct many countries of the day used concerning crime.
Judgment
When judging a person for his or her crimes, discernment must be used. This is true whether the person is a real judge, a teacher, a parent, or even a friend.
In other words, we must think before we make judgment decisions.
Yes, We Judge – Grace or Judgment Depends Upon…
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”0718079906″ locale=”US” src=”https://makingchristknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/51AUd5xRu9L.SL160.jpg” tag=”bobpardphot-20″ width=”107″]Yes, we should consider cause and effect before committing an action.
Even Christians many times want grace for themselves and justice for others.
God gave us grace as a free gift through Jesus Christ. So, shouldn’t we try and give grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged us?
It’s not an easy task but that is exactly what God commanded us to do.
We should consider situations very carefully before we judge other people.
Does the punishment we give others fit the crime? Be fair.
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to learn more about the love and life-changing experience of Christ, please take a moment to…