Exodus 21:18-22:1
IN THESE next verses 18 to 27, we see God’s tender care for the bodies of His own — and this is especially true in the case of those who were subject and dependent on others — “and if a man smite his servant, or his maid,"... “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child."... “And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.”
How much further Christianity goes than the laws given to Israel. The law demanded an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth (v. 24), but grace goes far beyond — we, as Christians, are called on to return good for evil. “I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt. 5:39. The law demanded an equal return, but grace gives up every claim since the Lord has dealt with us in grace, and canceled all the debt of sin we owed.
In verses 28 to 36 we see how a man was responsible for the acts of his cattle. If a mischievous ox gored a man or a woman to death, the ox was to be stoned. If the animal had caused mischief before, and his owner knew it, and had not kept him in, the owner too must pay with his life. How these details tell of the Lord’s care to each one of His own.
In verse 32, we learn that the value of a manservant or a maidservant was set at thirty shekels of silver. And this is what Judas sold the blessed Saviour for, the price the Jews valued Him at — “So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.” Zech. 11:12. The blessed Son of God was sold for the price of a mere slave. Such was man’s estimate of Him then and, sad to say, is the value that many put upon Him today. Yet, by nature, our hearts are no better. How thankful if now, through grace, we have had our eyes opened to see in Him “the altogether lovely One,” “the Chiefest among ten thousand.” How we delight to think of God’s estimate of His beloved Son: “when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand,... far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” Eph. 1:20,21.
For, “God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of. God the Father,” Phil. 2: 9-11.
Then, in chapter 22: 1, we have another beautiful instance of grace. If an ox were stoned and killed, the guilty one must restore five oxen, wad-four sheep for a sheep. We see in this how God guards the property of His people, and how He regarded the sin of robbing a fellowman.
But what of man’s sin in robbing God? How great our guilt! So great that it is impossible for one to make restitution.
Yet it is precious to hear the Lord say in Psalm 69:4, “then I restored that which I took not away.” He has answered for all our transgressions, so that there is not a single sin can be laid to our charge; His death has satisfied all God’s righteous claims against us. He has restored it all Furthermore, He has added the fifth part, for God has been glorified by the obedience unto death of His dear Son, far more so than if sin had never come into this world. Surely we ought to bless and thank Him for all that He has done for us. Eternity will be too short to utter all His praise.
ML-02/15/1970