EXODUS 21 RESPONSIBILITY AND INTENT There are consequences in everything we do in life. The day by day living of any person will usually affect others in one way or another. It is important for us to take time to think a thing through as to what will be the outcome of a matter, before we act. Someone has said, "Act in haste, repent at leisure." The law of relationships has guidelines that are common sense but also have legal ramifications. There is nowhere in scripture that indicates God approves of slavery. In ancient times it was accepted and even in comparatively recent times in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. In most of those places people made their own rules to guide them. The Israelites could never make one of their own nation a permanent slave. If a debt was owed and a Hebrew became a servant, there was a six-year period of service allowed to pay the debt. If the Hebrew was married when he became an indentured servant, after six years of labor was finished, he and his family were free to go. If during the time of his service he was married to another servant, at the end of the six years he was free to go but his wife who legally belonged to the master, had to stay along with any children they may have had.
But there was another option open to the one who could go out free and independent. He could choose to remain a servant and stay with his wife, children and master. The law of the Hebrew servant is a very wonderful type of Jehovah's Perfect Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a Hebrew Servant - "The Lion of the tribe of Judah." He came in by Himself - "He took upon Him the form of a servant." He was given a bride, the Church - "All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me." He made a public declaration of His love of his Master, wife and children - "The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." He had to be marked as a testimony at the door - "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin." He had to be bored through with an awl - "They pierced My hands and My feet." He would be a servant forever - "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish."
If it was the intent of the Hebrew servant to remain a servant, this would be obvious and known to everyone. His responsibility then would be to his master, wife and children for his lifetime because of his love for them. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled this law completely for God, for His bride and for sinners who He could redeem through His sacrifice.
The laws concerning injuries were given as guidelines so that extreme measures wouldn't be taken to rectify small matters, nor serious matters be taken lightly and the consequences overlooked. Punishment for personal injuries can be too harsh or too lenient. The nation was to put to death the one who deliberately murdered another. Provision was made for one to get a fair hearing and trial. Self-defense would not demand execution. There was provision for the home to be protected from a willful son who attacked his parents, by considering that attack a capital crime. The same was held true for one who kidnapped another. Even though slavery was a huge system to the extent that one nation could be slaves to another, God dealt with that issue.
Injuries that happened, either deliberately caused or accidental, were defined by God so that proper and fair reimbursement might be made for time lost or the effects caused. Serious injuries were dealt with seriously. If no serious injuries occurred in an event, fines were imposed. All of these laws were reasonable so the punishment would fit the crime. These guides were given so the judges had rules that were known by all the people, and the offenders could expect righteous retribution. In order for discipline to be effective on the offender and/or the observers, it must be consistent to the offense. Too harsh a sentence is unfair, and too lenient a sentence doesn't teach correct behavior to anyone. Laws have to be enforced if there is to be order in a society and protection for the lives and property of the people.
God's grace has been extended to us reminding us that we have been delivered from the eternal consequences of our sin by the sacrifice of Christ. The liberty we have is not because God ignored or overlooked sin, but because He provided the Perfect Substitute for us.
Laws are not trivial rules we make to impose control by our self-will. They provided a standard in the past that maintains proper order still. Those laws were not easy nor were they unfair, they suited the stated need.
Even today when those laws are enforced, they work when to them we heed.
But we have a problem, as a nation we have changed our laws to suit ourselves. Harsh penalties are imposed on trivial things, while important things are being shelved. People may go to jail for killing an animal, but for killing an unborn child they're free. For small things one may lose all they have, and serious things may have no penalty.
We all need to remember, God is not dead, and everything is known to Him. His judgments are fair, His definitions are the same, He hasn't changed the meaning of sin. Some may think they have avoided the penalty because they have never been caught. Take into your consideration if you will, the One who these laws to us taught.
God first wrote them on the hearts of all men so no one has an excuse - To say they didn't know what is right or wrong, or with truth to play fast and loose. By the time Israel was a recognizable nation, those laws were well understood. They were not given to take or leave, or pay attention to only if we would.
There are penalties to laws, even if you break one, God says you're guilty of all. Because they are linked together as one, to break one link the whole chain will fall. By carefully reading the law and giving it heed, we realize its purpose is clear. It gives everyone the guilty verdict so we will give God reverence and holy fear.
God knows we have broken those very righteous standards; we all have been born in sin. So, God sent His Son to fulfill that law and make possible righteousness in Him. We know we are guilty and must take our place as a sinner condemned before God. Then the way of redemption from the curse of the law has been made understandable in His Word.
Whether it's property rights or personal injuries, the law defines the claim. The way of retribution is defined in words, the law fits each person the same. When I make daily decisions, I must wisely consider the outcome of each action I make. So that when the force of the law is applied, I'll not ever want to make a mistake.
"Father, please help me to keep my lips shut and my mind open to every challenge of this day. When I must speak, guide these words by the Spirit of Truth. May every thought be kept in captivity to the obedience of Christ. May every action reflect well on my Lord and Master. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."