Exodus 21
Exodus 21, Psalm 19:7-9, Psalm 119:11
Looking back at my childhood now, I remember all of the times that I questioned my parents' rules, guidelines, or laws if you will. From a young age, I questioned why I had to eat my vegetables. In high school, it was more questioning about why my curfew was so early. Either way, there was a lack of experience and wisdom on my behalf. In thinking I knew best or at least knew enough, I questioned my parents and challenged the laws they laid out for my siblings and me. Now looking back, even as a mid twenty-something, I am beginning to notice certain things I should not have challenged my parents on. They had my best interest in mind.
Exodus 21 is the first full chapter of Moses sharing the law of the Lord with the Israelite people, following the ten commandments. A few of the laws that it speaks to in this passage are:
Laws regarding servants.
Laws regarding disobedient children.
Laws regarding physical violence.
Laws regarding retaliation and restitution.
Now under Jesus and not under the Mosaic law, you may be wondering, “Okay, but what does this have to do with me? I'm bored; I am going to read something in the New Testament.” Seriously, I have had those thoughts personally, and similar comments have been shared with me by others. But pushing into valuing the entire text, there is something here for us. There is a theme of God that doesn’t just exist in the Old Testament, but that is applicable to us in our current day.
As Psalm 19 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect…”. The law Moses was sharing here with the Israelites for their best, for them to thrive in God's creation. We can see this throughout the Old Testament when they disobey and things go poorly. God loved his people in sharing this law with them, telling them how to function as his people in a way that would lead to health, righteousness, and prosperity. They should have valued his word and not questioned it as I did to my parents growing up.
Now we sit under Christ, freed, redeemed, and seen as righteous thanks to Christ’s propitiation on our behalf. And what do we do? We still question and wrestle with following God's law. Our souls still doubt that his way is best at times in our lives. While reading Exodus 21, it led me to think about how even when I am unsure about God’s design, I need to press into faith and trust, knowing that he sets the right way before me.
Now I eat a lot of vegetables. I wish I had listened to my parents about eating healthy when I was younger. Applying that to my relationship with God, I know that I should trust him and his law for my life rather than disobey only to find out 20 years from now that I should have listened all along.
Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Let us be people who trust God has our best in mind and that his law is for our flourishing. Let us store up his word and law in our hearts so that we would not sin against him but live a life glorifying him and as intended for us.
