Exodus 22:1-31 – “House Rules Part 2”
I.) Intro.
Last week, we saw God ordering the social life of the nation through what I’ve called “house rules.” It is amazing how simple yet specific these laws were. Folks, laws are there for our benefit. The only time we don’t see it that way is when they interfere with what we want to do. Occasionally, laws become obsolete due to changes in technology, but for the most part, they establish order, and the lack of them creates chaos.
Here at Calvary Chapel, we are a pretty harmonious group and don’t have very many rules. We naturally assume that folks who come here will behave in a way that represents Jesus. So, we don’t impose a lot of rules, and the ones we do have are for the benefit of all. That’s why we don’t allow people to move around much during the service because it might disturb others.
Let me tell you about a rule that we may eventually have to put in place: We start at 9:00 AM, and if you come after that, you may have to wait outside until just before the teaching to get a seat. Why? Well, it disrupts those who arrive on time when they are worshiping the Lord. Now, you may be thinking I’m talking about you, and if the shoe fits, I guess I am. But your freedom is disrespecting others. I bet you don’t arrive at work on Monday 15-30 minutes late, do you?
Rules are there to guide social behavior for the betterment of all and to correct bad behavior that we may not be aware of.
II.) Vs. 1-17 Responsibility & Restitution
This section deals with things lost and responsibility, making whole or complete that which was lost. Six times in these 12 verses, the words “restore” or “restitution” appear, and the word literally means to make whole or complete. Primarily, we are talking about negligence on the part of some, resulting in the property loss of others, but that is not the case in verses 16-17, where what was lost was a girl’s innocence, and the need to pay restitution to her and her family is highlighted.
Vs. 1: The law made a distinction between stolen animals that were still alive in the possession of the thief and those that were killed or sold for a profit. If the thief still had the animal, he had to return it and pay a fine. But the thief who stole animals for profit had to pay four sheep or five oxen for every one taken. Why? Well, clearly, the person who stole for profit was doing so out of greed and against the rights of another. If the person couldn’t pay the fine, they would be sold as indentured servants, with the price of their sale going to the victim. Why the difference between oxen and sheep? Oxen were far more valuable than sheep, kind of like the difference between grand theft and petty theft.
I like the fact that the thief was made to pay restitution. You’ve heard the old adage, “crime does not pay.” Well, here, it did pay, up to five times everything they took. It was not profitable to steal from others to get ahead.
Vs. 2-4: Here, the victim was given the right to protect his family with reasonable force. The victim could only use lethal force at night against a thief, but not during the day. Why the difference? At night, the victim wouldn’t know if the thief had a weapon or if their intent was to steal or kill. During the day, the victim could see the person and their intent to steal, so there would be no need for deadly force unless it was for revenge. If the person was caught during the day, the regular laws for stealing applied, which meant paying double for the live animal, as stated in verse 4. So, it was better for the thief to buy the animal than to steal it because stealing would cost them double.
These laws were geared for the victim, not the criminal. Today, it seems our laws are more geared toward the criminal than the victim. Judges and lawyers should go back and read these chapters, as they are the foundation of many of our laws today.
Vs. 5-6: Restitution was required for damage to property, not just possessions. The owner of an animal was responsible for keeping their animals on their property. Negligence did not excuse responsibility, and restitution had to be paid with the “best” of the perpetrator’s land. Fire control was also the responsibility of each person, and again, negligence did not excuse responsibility. The reference to thorns refers to the fences of that time, which were often made of thorns or cactus.
If you go out and look at your car and see the dings and pings from others who haven’t paid restitution, you’ll see how these laws could apply today. Again, restitution means to “make whole or complete.” It’s not enough to say sorry; you have to make it right.
Vs. 7-15: These laws apply to items entrusted to you for safekeeping. If someone asks you to take care of something, you were to treat it as your own. The “good neighbor” policy applied here, where honesty and integrity were essential. There were four ways a person could entrust belongings to you:
- Safekeeping without payment.
- Safekeeping with payment.
- Hiring the property of another.
- Borrowing the property of another.
No matter what, you were responsible as if it were your own. If the thief was caught, the fine went to the owner, not the caretaker. If the thief wasn’t found, the case went to the judges to determine if the borrower had anything to do with its disappearance. Disputes about ownership or damage were also taken to the judges. If the loss was due to armed robbery or an accident, proof had to be shown.
The bottom line was to “treat your neighbor as you would want to be treated.” Restitution was predetermined, not left up to the whims of judges.
Vs. 16-17: Here, God addresses the protection of a girl’s innocence against seduction. This has nothing to do with adultery or rape, which were capital offenses. God was saying there is no such thing as casual sex; all sexual relations carry lasting consequences, and virginity was to be highly prized. If a guy seduced a girl, it was going to cost him several ways:
- If the father allowed, he had to marry her and could never divorce her.
- He had to pay the father a sum of money for the disgrace upon the family, plus the bride price.
- If he wasn’t allowed to marry her, he still had to pay the bride price (50 shekels of silver, about $6,400 today).
In short, the guy wouldn’t be called a “player” but a “payer.” This law was a powerful deterrent against seduction and living together without commitment.
III.) Vs. 18-20 Three Things God Hates
Now we come to three things that God hates. Interestingly, they all involve the worship of false gods and the practices associated with them, which contaminated society.
Vs. 18: The death penalty was given to those who practiced sorcery. The word sorceress means “to whisper a spell, to enchant, or practice magic,” often associated with “medicinal arts” or drug use. Paul speaks about sorcery in Galatians 5:19-20, connecting it with idolatry. Taking drugs is often an attempt to escape reality, and many who do so open themselves up to demonic influence. God says that for the betterment of society, those who practice sorcery should be put to death.
Vs. 19: Bestiality, a practice by some of the Egyptian cults, was a perversion of God’s gift of sex. God considered it a capital offense. It’s shocking to hear about deviant behaviors like bestiality still occurring today. Some groups are even attempting to gain recognition and rights, like the group advocating for “bestiality awareness days.” God says these practices have no place in His society.
Vs. 20: Lastly, God says that any practice associated with the worship of false gods is intolerable. Practices like child sacrifice were part of these false religions. What we worship is what we become like, so God forbids the worship of anything that is not Him.
IV.) Vs. 21-31 Compassionate Conservatism
Now we turn to see what God loves—compassion for the stranger, widow, and orphan. God wanted His people to show care for the weakest members of society, unlike the “survival of the fittest” mentality seen in the world today. God’s people were to treat others as family and ensure they weren’t oppressed or taken advantage of.
Vs. 21-24: There was to be no oppression of strangers, widows, or orphans. God personally promised to defend them and would hold the oppressors accountable. Israel failed in this area and faced consequences later in their history. God hears the cries of the oppressed, and so should we.
Vs. 25-27: Loans to the poor were to be interest-free, giving them a hand-up rather than a handout. Taking unreasonable collateral was forbidden, and God promised to go after those who tried to profit off the poor.
Vs. 28-31: They were to show their separation to God in two distinct ways: civilly and religiously. There was no separation of church and state in Israel. They were to speak respectfully about their leaders and support the nation with their tithes and offerings. Finally, they were to show their holiness in how they conducted themselves, even in matters as simple as food.
That concludes part two of God’s house rules. I pray that we will apply these principles in our lives to be more like Jesus.