April 22, 2019
Burnin' Down the House
Exodus 22
Kevin Mainz
Central Truth
God cares more about heart change than behavior change or rule-following.
Key Verse | Exodus 22:31a
"You shall be consecrated to me. . . ."
Exodus 22
1 1 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Hebrew If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 2 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Hebrew If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He 3 22:3 That is, the thief shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5 If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.
6 If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
7 If a man gives to his neighbor 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 neighbor'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 neighbor.
10 If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the LORD shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.
14 If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee. 4 22:15 Or it is reckoned in (Hebrew comes into) its hiring fee
Laws About Social Justice
16 If a man seduces a virgin 5 22:16 Or a girl of marriageable age; also verse 17 who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price 6 22:16 Or engagement present; also verse 17 for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.
18 You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
19 Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.
20 Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction. 7 22:20 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
21 You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28 You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31 You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
[1] 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Hebrew[2] 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Hebrew
[3] 22:3 That is, the thief
[4] 22:15 Or it is reckoned in (Hebrew comes into) its hiring fee
[5] 22:16 Or a girl of marriageable age; also verse 17
[6] 22:16 Or engagement present; also verse 17
[7] 22:20 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
Dive Deeper | Exodus 22
It was a hot summer day in 1991 for my buddy Colin and me. For two curious teenage boys prone to mischief, boredom had dangerous potential. As the boredom overtook us, we began searching for something to do to pass the time. Stumbling across a bag of leftover fireworks, our spirits were immediately lifted by the new possibilities the day now had to offer. The next hour was filled with adolescent amusement as we detonated multiple black cats and jumping jacks, employing the aforementioned traits of curiosity and mischief.
As both the novelty and the arsenal faded, we found ourselves hot, thirsty, and ready to move on to the next activity, preferably indoors. Soon after, while watching television, we noticed the power blinking in the house and an odd sound coming from the backyard. A few profanities later, we found ourselves attempting to extinguish what was already an impressive roof fire. When our own extinguishing efforts fell short, we realized we were in need of professional help. Fortunately, the crowd that was gathering out front had the same idea and had already phoned 9-1-1. When it was all said and done, over half the house had been burned to an unrecognizable crisp.
This section of Exodus includes laws pertaining to the protection of property and social responsibilities. This Mosaic law served to reveal the holy character of God to the nation of Israel and to set apart God's people as distinct from all others. Reading through these laws, I quickly noticed that I'm guilty of breaking many of them. Exodus 22:6 tells us that if a fire breaks out and spreads, creating destruction, "he who started the fire shall make full restitution." To this day, the banter continues about whose firecracker actually sparked the blaze.
Fortunately for us, and you, we serve a risen God who came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17), thereby rendering us no longer under the law but under grace—God's (& Colin's parents') Amazing Grace!
Discussion Questions
1. When was the last time you burned your friend's house down?
2. Okay, if question #1 doesn't pertain to you, when was the last time you were beaten down by rule-following and tirelessly trying to avoid certain behaviors? Romans 8:1 reminds us, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
3. What would it look like for you if you focused on heart change instead? Galatians 2:19-21 tells us, "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."