Guidelines from God

Bible Passage: Exodus 21:1-22:31

Summary: Exodus 21-23 presents God's instructions for justice within the community of Israel, outlining laws that reflect His character and wisdom in dealing with moral and social issues.

Pray

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GUIDELINE #1: READ, THEN SUMMARIZE.

Exodus 21:1–11 NASB95

“Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them: “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. “If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. “If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. “But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. “If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to go free as the male slaves do. “If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his unfairness to her. “If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. “If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights. “If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

Guideline #1: Show Respect to Others

What it meant to Israel…

Just because a man is in a bad situation and needs to work for you doesn’t mean he has to work forever.

The married man who works for you is your servant, not his wife.

The young men or women who work for you are your servants, but they don’t get to break their commitments to you just because they get married.

If a man builds a family while serving you and wants to stay, make him a promise before God and take care of him and his family.

If a young women has to become a servant, don’t sell her to be taken advantage of. If you want her to marry your son, treat her the same as if she was not a servant because she is still a person. If you aren’t willing to look out for her, then she goes free and you get nothing in return.

What it means to us…

Don’t shame someone or ask more of them than they can handle just because they did something wrong to you in the past.

If you make someone a promise, be true to your word.

If someone wants to go above and beyond what you’ve asked them to do, show them respect and look out for them.

Proverbs 22:22–23 NASB95

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

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GUIDELINE #2: READ, THEN SUMMARIZE.

Exodus 21:12–22:27 NASB95

“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. “If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished. “If, however, he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; for he is his property. “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. “And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth. “If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. “If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. “If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded of him. “Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule. “If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. “If a man opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it over, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his. “If one man’s ox hurts another’s so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its price equally; and also they shall divide the dead ox. “Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his. “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. “If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. “But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. “If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double. “If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution. “If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double. “If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking, an oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them that he has not laid hands on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. “But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. “If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces. “If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. “If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; if it is hired, it came for its hire. “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife. “If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the dowry for virgins. “You shall not allow a sorceress to live. “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. “He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed. “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. “If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. “If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest. “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious.

Guideline #2: Follow the Golden Rule

What it meant to Israel…

If you wrong someone by accident there will still be consequences, but if you planned to wrong someone (intent) then you will get the most severe punishment for the crime.

If there isn’t a specific law for your situation, your best bet is to do the opposite of your crime to keep things fair.

What it means to us…

If you make a mistake that creates problems for others, try to make it right.

If you create problems or wrong others on purpose, remember that God knows it and you won’t get away with it in the end.

In general, treat others the way you would want them to treat you.

Matthew 7:7–12 NASB95

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

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GUIDELINE #3: READ, THEN SUMMARIZE.

Exodus 22:28–31 NASB95

“You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people. “You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. “You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me. “You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Guideline #3: Let God Be God

What it meant to Israel…

Before you judge those who have less than you do and take advantage of them, remember who you were before God delivered you and provided for you.

God has a plan for others just like He has a plan for you, and His plan includes the leaders He puts in your life. Don’t sit in judgement on God by refusing to obey Moses or God’s Law.

What it means to us…

If someone in the church needs help, don’t treat them like an outsider or take advantage of them.

Don’t complain about the situation that God has put you in, but trust that He knows what He’s doing.

Honor God by honoring your leaders, knowing that He recognizes your efforts even if they don’t.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NASB95

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

BENEDICTION

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 NASB95

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.