The Purpose of the Law
Exodus 21:1: "Now these are the rules that you shall set before them."
The rules in the verse above came in the form of the Ten Commandments, and these commandments have two distinct sections. The first four commandments instruct the people how to love the Lord their God above all else, to worship him alone, and to live in devotion to him. The next six commandments are focused on how God's people are to love each other and to live in relationship with one another. As we read beyond the Ten Commandments, the laws may be difficult for us to understand and appropriate to our lives today. Nevertheless, these are still God's words being spoken to us today, even in this modern, technological world.
Chapter 21 is often where we tend to check out from our reading of Exodus. What do all these rules and regulations have to do with us? We don't have slaves. We don't sell our daughters into marriage. We rarely hear of an ox that gores a man or woman to death. While it may be hard to relate to these teachings of the Lord, we know they are part of his Word, and as part of his Word, they are there to instruct us in his ways. The Lord calls us to honor one another, to value human life, and to set parameters around life to protect it and to cherish it. The Lord taught that if an Israelite was in desperate need, they could sell themselves into slavery, but after six years, that person was to be set free as well as anyone he brought with him (21:1-5). A woman was to be cherished as a wife and cared for and not to be seen as one's property (21:7-11). People were not to abuse one another physically or verbally. Instead, they were called to honor one another and to see that they were made in the image of God.
Behind all the rules was the God who made the rules. The Lord revealed himself to his people; he spoke to the people through the words of his covenant because he wanted a relationship with his people and between his people. These rules served as their playbook for their relationships. They set parameters and expectations. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came" (3:23). The law was there to protect the people, to guide them, and to grow them in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
Reflection:
How do you view the laws of the Lord? Do you see the laws as a restriction to your life or do you see them as an invitation to live in relationship with a holy God?
The rules in the verse above came in the form of the Ten Commandments, and these commandments have two distinct sections. The first four commandments instruct the people how to love the Lord their God above all else, to worship him alone, and to live in devotion to him. The next six commandments are focused on how God's people are to love each other and to live in relationship with one another. As we read beyond the Ten Commandments, the laws may be difficult for us to understand and appropriate to our lives today. Nevertheless, these are still God's words being spoken to us today, even in this modern, technological world.
Chapter 21 is often where we tend to check out from our reading of Exodus. What do all these rules and regulations have to do with us? We don't have slaves. We don't sell our daughters into marriage. We rarely hear of an ox that gores a man or woman to death. While it may be hard to relate to these teachings of the Lord, we know they are part of his Word, and as part of his Word, they are there to instruct us in his ways. The Lord calls us to honor one another, to value human life, and to set parameters around life to protect it and to cherish it. The Lord taught that if an Israelite was in desperate need, they could sell themselves into slavery, but after six years, that person was to be set free as well as anyone he brought with him (21:1-5). A woman was to be cherished as a wife and cared for and not to be seen as one's property (21:7-11). People were not to abuse one another physically or verbally. Instead, they were called to honor one another and to see that they were made in the image of God.
Behind all the rules was the God who made the rules. The Lord revealed himself to his people; he spoke to the people through the words of his covenant because he wanted a relationship with his people and between his people. These rules served as their playbook for their relationships. They set parameters and expectations. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came" (3:23). The law was there to protect the people, to guide them, and to grow them in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
Reflection:
How do you view the laws of the Lord? Do you see the laws as a restriction to your life or do you see them as an invitation to live in relationship with a holy God?
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