Exodus 22:9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare c guilty must pay back double to the other.
The problem with boiling life down to rules and consequences is that then each decision becomes “Am I ok with the consequences if I do this thing?”. It feels very “a child deciding if breaking curfew is worth a week of grounding” to me. Like “Do I want to do this thing bad enough to pay the cost if I am caught?”.
Exodus 22:10-11 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required.
But, these consequences don’t often include a look at the damage caused by our own carelessness, the unintended consequences to self and others. Our relationship with our Creator is all about RELATIONSHIP. Those consequences matter because real people are hurt.
Exodus 22:12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner.
Precious Savior, It is easy to just look at consequences to self when we are pondering something. But we don’t exist in a vacuum. We have people who love us, who could be injured–physically, mentally, emotionally–in ways we haven’t even thought of. Help us not to reduce life to rules and consequences. Help us to make others a part of the equation. Amen.
Exodus 22:13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.
Have a blessed day.