Exodus 21 & 22: Are You Gracious?
Verse of the Day: (22:27) For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
1. God (21:1-32)
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. (21:13)
God is not only the God of judgment, but He is also the God of grace as He truly loves and cares for all His people created in His image. The reason why God judges and punishes us is because He hates our sins and wickedness. At the time of Moses, God gave Israel a set of judgments, and promised them that He shall bless and keep them if they followed His judgments. In fact, Israel was to be an example in following God and His judgments, so that the rest of the world shall believe in their God and follow His judgments. God gave Israel the rights of the servants so as to protect them from the abuse from their masters. God also gave laws on murder and injury. God even appointed cities of refuge for the manslaughters. Though God commanded us not to kill as individuals, yet God allowed capital punishment and killing during wartime for the defence of the innocent. Today, some of God’s judgments, including the Ten Commandments, are still practice by the courts of many countries in the world, as they seek to protect the rights and freedom of their citizens as well as to keep law and order in their communities.
2. Good (21:33-36)
The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his. (21:34)
God gave Israel the laws on property and damage, and even stipulate the ways to make good what was done wrong. Indeed, God is just and gracious, and He desires us to do what is just and gracious, so that we shall receive His full and abundant joy and blessings not only on this temporal earth, but one day with Him in glorious heaven for all eternity!
3. Gracious (22:1-31)
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. (22:31)
God stipulates man’s duties and obligations to society so that there shall be peace and harmony in the community. God’s main requirement for men is that we be holy and gracious before Him as He is a holy and gracious God. God loves the widows and fatherless children as they have lost their sole breadwinners - their husbands and fathers, and He commanded the people to fully provide for all their needs. Indeed, let us be holy and gracious to others so that they shall experience God’s holiness and grace through us!
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be gracious and good as You are gracious and good.
