The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 21:35-36,
"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. 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."
When the Lord met with Moses and gave him the law Israel was to live by, we find very practical matters addressed. Here, in the instance of an owner's bull causing damage, the resolution for justice is outlined. These practical laws were designed to provide for the community to live and function together. It provided a means for peaceful coexistence among God's people and we see very practical and real-life issues addressed. One wonders if many of the things addressed by the Lord on the mountain were issues brought to Moses for adjudication as he performed his judicial activities for the Israelites as depicted in chapter 18.
The law actually brought two different needed outcomes. The first we see in this chapter, a groundwork that allowed for the community of Israel to live and function within well-ordered and well-defined guidelines that could provide for a healthy functioning society. Another, and wholly different needed outcome, was to demonstrate to the Israelites, and through them to the world, our need of the Savior.
Much of the morally oriented aspects of the law were designed with that specific purpose in mind. As an example Jesus used the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14. He said, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28. This proper understanding of the law and its intent renders all mankind culpable before our Creator as guilty and rightfully due his justice at the end of the age.
The point of the conviction the law provides was and is to demonstrate we have an eternally life-threatening need to cast ourselves at the mercy of God's provision today for those wanting to find forgiveness of their sins. All who die in their sins, who have rejected God's offer of mercy through the sacrifice Jesus made of himself on that cross will suffer eternal death. Those who embrace the Lord in faith and respond to his offer of mercy will inherit eternal life, eternal pleasures at the right hand of God, Psalm 16:11.
Paul speaks of this purpose of the law in several places. In recounting his own spiritual journey, Paul said, "I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law." In Romans 3:20 we read, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
"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. 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."
When the Lord met with Moses and gave him the law Israel was to live by, we find very practical matters addressed. Here, in the instance of an owner's bull causing damage, the resolution for justice is outlined. These practical laws were designed to provide for the community to live and function together. It provided a means for peaceful coexistence among God's people and we see very practical and real-life issues addressed. One wonders if many of the things addressed by the Lord on the mountain were issues brought to Moses for adjudication as he performed his judicial activities for the Israelites as depicted in chapter 18.
The law actually brought two different needed outcomes. The first we see in this chapter, a groundwork that allowed for the community of Israel to live and function within well-ordered and well-defined guidelines that could provide for a healthy functioning society. Another, and wholly different needed outcome, was to demonstrate to the Israelites, and through them to the world, our need of the Savior.
Much of the morally oriented aspects of the law were designed with that specific purpose in mind. As an example Jesus used the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14. He said, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28. This proper understanding of the law and its intent renders all mankind culpable before our Creator as guilty and rightfully due his justice at the end of the age.
The point of the conviction the law provides was and is to demonstrate we have an eternally life-threatening need to cast ourselves at the mercy of God's provision today for those wanting to find forgiveness of their sins. All who die in their sins, who have rejected God's offer of mercy through the sacrifice Jesus made of himself on that cross will suffer eternal death. Those who embrace the Lord in faith and respond to his offer of mercy will inherit eternal life, eternal pleasures at the right hand of God, Psalm 16:11.
Paul speaks of this purpose of the law in several places. In recounting his own spiritual journey, Paul said, "I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law." In Romans 3:20 we read, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
It is only when we recognize our sin do we recognize our need for the Savior. How wonderful God has made things so clear for all who take interest in their eternal destiny!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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