Exodus 22
McGeeCHAPTER 22THEME: The law concerning property rights; the law concerning crimes against humanity
Exodus 22:1
THE LAW CONCERNING PROPERTY RIGHTSThere are those who raise the question today, “What is right and what is wrong?” Some say that what is right and wrong is relative. A college professor, who claims to be an atheist, was discussing this with me. He maintained that right and wrong are relative, that what he would think is right and what I would think is right could be poles apart. Then he asked me, “On what do you base your dogmatic conclusions?” I said, “I base them on the Word of God.” I went on to tell him that my nature was just like his nature, and that I would like to give in in certain places, and I would like to let the bars down here and there, but God has given me a standard to follow. The interesting thing is that God’s standard has produced a society in which there has been a measure of law and justice. The laws presented in chapters 21 to 24 deal with everyday nitty-gritty living. In some ways it is boring reading and similar to reading a lawbook. However, most of our laws are based upon these precepts. I am glad that the Word of God says, “Thou shalt not kill.” It protects me and my family. I am happy the Bible says, “Thou shalt not steal.” It protects what little property I have. These and the other laws are basic to having order in a society. I cannot tell you why five oxen should be restored for an ox or four sheep for one sheep. In the New Testament, however, Zacchaeus referred to this principle:“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luk_19:8). Why did he say fourfold? He was referring to the Mosaic Law. Our law today says that if you destroy another man’s property, you must pay the damages. All that our society demands when you damage or destroy some other person’s property is to replace the item or pay what it is worth. God’s law of restoring fourfold is much better with human nature the way it is. If we had to restore fourfold anything that we destroyed or damaged, we would be more careful. Human nature is always the same, and God is always the same. God deals with man on the basis that is best for him.
Exodus 22:2
This law gives you the right to self-protection. Not long ago a thief broke into a man’s place and the homeowner shot him. He sued the homeowner for several thousand dollars in damages. The case went to court and the thief won the judgment on the grounds that the homeowner had no right to shoot him, according to the decision of some asinine judge! In order to pay the damages the homeowner had to sell his property. And there was no judgment against the thief at all! In our day there is a great emphasis on protecting the rights of the guilty at the expense of the rights of the innocent. God’s law protects a man’s property and his home. Under this principle a man is justified in protecting his property, his home, and his loved ones. God’s laws are basic principles which give society law and order. If mankind had followed God’s social legislation as given in the Book of Exodus, we would not have the social problems we are having in the cities of the United States. Our entire legal system, which was founded on the Word of God, is riddled with men who do not know the Bible because they are so far from it themselves. Their entire background is such that they are not properly able to interpret the Law. The Constitution of the United States was written by men, not all of whom were Christian (in fact, most of them were Deists), but they had a certain respect for the Word of God. I recently heard a man say that Thomas Jefferson ridiculed the Bible. He did not. Quotations from Thomas Jefferson show that he had great respect for the Word of God even though he did not believe in the miraculous and actually did not follow it in his personal life. But we have men who administer law today with no background in the Bible whatever. Because of this we are in trouble, deep trouble.
Exodus 22:3
If a man steals, he has to make restitution for that which he has stolen, even to the point of selling himself into slavery to help make the payment.
Exodus 22:5
If a man’s cow or sheep breaks through into another man’s field and they cause damage, he is to make restitution.
Exodus 22:6
This is a practical verse that shows us the right way to do things. It is another basic principle for the welfare of mankind on earth. God gave the Mosaic system to Israel so that they would be an example to the nations of the world.
Exodus 22:16
THE LAW CONCERNING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITYIn other words, if a man rapes a girl, he will be forced to marry her. Things are certainly different in our day and age.
Exodus 22:17
If her father does not agree to the marriage, the rapist must pay a penalty for what he has done.
Exodus 22:18
Today we are seeing a resurgence of Satan worship and of the supernatural. This trend is potent and it is real. We shall be dealing with this further in the Book of Deuteronomy.
Exodus 22:19
Having sexual intercourse with a beast shows just how low man can go. Why did God make a law like this? Well, because it was being done. And we are seeing a recurrence of this unspeakably degrading practice in our “enlightened” society.
Exodus 22:20
This, of course, was the most severe penalty. Had it been followed to the letter, we would have a much better society today. Utterly destroying anyone who sacrifices to any other god but the LORD is harsh but, after all, when you have a cancer, you want to rid yourself of it. This is what God is talking about.
Exodus 22:21
This is God’s “Good Neighbor” policy.
Exodus 22:22
Child labor laws were established after the Wesleyan Revival, friends. The Word of God has been basic to all of the great movements that have brought blessing to mankind. What about the fatherless child? Did the orphans’ home begin in atheistic countries or under Christian auspices?
Exodus 22:23
I believe that God protects the helpless. Great judgment is coming for those individuals who have mistreated folk in need.
Exodus 22:25
If one person lends money to another, he is not to charge excessive interest. God says it is wrong to take advantage of others. These are some of God’s laws, and more are given in Exodus 23.