King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday. February 06, 2025
Chapters: Exodus 22-24
Message: Exodus: The Law is Given
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of Exodus we learn that we ought to treat everyone the way we want to be treated, God’s laws come with good reason and may seem a little obscure and outdated, but all we need to do to understand them is put our things for today in its place, [Mark 4:21-23 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.]
Jesus knew what He was talking about when constantly pointed out that those who have are willing to hear God will hear Him and He is revealed to them once they understand the Gospel and accept Him as their Saviour. Yesterday we learned that God, after having watched with their fathers sins cause so many problems, God came up with some rules that He wanted the Israelites or anyone who followed Him to follow. As God continues to give Moses instructions on what would become His laws, He addresses thief.
[Exodus 22:1-3,5-6 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution. 6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.]
[Restitution; The act of returning or restoring to a person some thing or right of which he has been unjustly deprived;] In other words, if the thief was caught, instead of placing them in jail, they need to repay back what they owed plus interest. If a thief was killed accidentally by some animal due to his theft then no one would be held accountable for his death. On the other hand, if the owner or someone else were to kill the man, then they would be held accountable. Why? Things stolen are replaceable, people are not. Jesus said this, [Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.]
As for the crops of another that were destroyed when one allowed their livestock to be trampled or eaten, or a fire on their property pass over to theirs, they were held accountable because they were careless about others personal property. And speaking of personal property, God had rules about something that was borrowed or put in the care of another and it be stolen.
[Exodus 22:7-8,10-11 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. 8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods. 10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: 11 Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.]
Now, these may seem like ridiculous laws but what it does is show the mercies of God toward everyone because after all Jesus made restitution for us when He went to the cross for us, [Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.]
If there is one thing that I am not comfortable with it is borrowing or being asked to watch over something that is not mine, I am on constant edge over something happening to it and actually take better care of it. Think about it, most people are more careful with the things that do not belong to them, perhaps that is God’s way of teaching us that we need to treat everything with the same respect. Saved, born again Christians ought to be ready to show the mercies of God to all, regardless of who they are. As God continues, He gives laws in regards to social justice, in other words how well they treat each other.
[Exodus 22:16-24 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. 18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. 20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.]
Our bodies ought to be something that we have a deep respect for, those who are quick to feed it with the lusts of the world, without any care given to the ones they entice are trying to find gratification in the abominations of the world and will bite them in the end. Think about it, witchcraft is anything that alters the body like drugs, defiling of ones body with an animal does exist, and the inhumane treatment of others definitely exists. We are not to expose our own body and especially others to what are abominations to God, [1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.]
Who would have thought that oppressing widows or orphans would come with such a high cost? And why widows and orphans only? Widows and orphans do not have people they can rely on to help provide for them, and therefore, God has a special place in their heart for them. Now, God has a special place in His heart for those who are poor as well, I am not talking about the ones standing in intersections begging for money to buy a six pack. I am talking about the ones who have no idea where and when their next meal will be. He goes on to give laws regarding the poor.
[Exodus 22:25-28 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. 26 If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: 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. 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.]
For a long time I would be afraid to do anything with my body because of the Holy Spirit living inside of me as the thought of doing something that God was being forced to be a part of still terrified me. Today, I have a better understanding of what God means but I will be honest and say that I long for that same fear again because I was much more prosperous, [Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.]
True Christians will trip, fall, and get back up many times, but it is Christ who gets them up, makes them stronger, and gives them a testimony of just what Christ has gotten them through. In regard to the gods, this is referring to the god of this world who is Satan and those who follow him, he surely makes himself appear to be all good but is far from it, [2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.]
And as for our rulers, we may not like them, but we do need to show them the same respect. The way people are reacting right now in regards to the government being exposed to what they have been doing for years has a lot to do with this. As God continues giving these commands, He makes it a point to remind them of how bad it is to falsely accuse or even side with those who are falsely accusing someone.
[Exodus 23:1-2,4-5,7-9 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: 4 If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. 7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. 9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.]
It sounds completely insane to help someone who has hurt you or someone you love, but think about it, that small act of kindness might just save their soul. Bullies, do not become bullies because they are born that way, they are usually being bullied by someone themselves. Jesus, said it this way, [Matthew 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.]
Notice that God keeps repeating that they were strangers in Egypt, and the reason He kept saying it is that this is not our home, we have eternity awaiting us. Until we get there, we are pilgrims and strangers on this land, and since we do not want to be oppressed, we ought not oppress those who come along with us for the journey. In doing so, we might just lead a few souls to Christ, [1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.]
Now, we know of the Sabbath day, and God expects us to keep it holy, meaning, we need a day to rid ourselves of all the cares of the world, and all the work that we have to do, and rest for one day out of the week. Well, did you know about the Sabbath year? Well, this would be a whole year of rest for the crops.
[Exodus 23:10-14 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: 11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard. 12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. 13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. 14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.]
[Circumspect; Cautious; prudent; watchful on all sides; examining carefully all the circumstances that may affect a determination, or a measure to be adopted.] Before we even make one move, we are to think about what would happen before doing it. You see, God promises to always be there for us, to love us, protect us, and provide for us by His grace, He really does this whether we obey or not, but imagine the blessings He would give if we paid more attention to what we were doing instead of acting on impulse. God reveals to Israel, that He is sending His Angel to go before them and prepare the land for them.
[Exodus 23:20-23 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. 23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.]
Jesus Christ Himself, the anchor to our soul, goes before us and keeps our way all the way until we reach our promise land. Notice what God says, [mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in], so He is not removing them out of the land, but getting them ready for when they do get there. God, goes on to explain why He is not driving them out all at once.
[Exodus 23:27-30,33 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. 28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. 29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.]
Do you understand why God keeps us on our toes so to speak by placing us in the world? If God rid us of our enemies right away we would not understand our need to fear Him, nor will we be able to reach the lost who have just as much of an opportunity to come to know of the true God and trust Jesus as their Saviour as we do, [John 17:18-19 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.]
Now, that God had given the Israelites some laws to follow He decides that He needs some people to enforce it and teach it to them, that would be where the priests come in. God, appoints Aaron and his sons as priests, then Moses calls for the congregation where he had an altar built.
[Exodus 24:1-4 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. 2 And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. 3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.]
This was not their ordinary altar for offering burnt sacrifices, this was an altar to be used in accordance with the new laws. Should anyone break a command, they would go to the altar with their sacrifice to make an atonement for their sin. Moses now shows them the very first sacrifices for reconciliation.
[Exodus 24:5-8 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD. 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.]
Without the blood there is no remission, restitution, or reconciliation for our sin, period. Jesus, has a blood covenant with each and every person who accepts Him as their Saviour, and Him alone, it is the only blood that can remove sin permanently, [Romans 3:22-24 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:]
Now with the new laws going into effect immediately, the first sacrifices shown, and their willingness to obey the Law, the true test would come when there is no one around to watch them. So, what does God do? He sends Moses away for forty days and forty nights.
[Exodus 24:12-14,16-17 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. 13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. 16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.]
I always wonder what Joshua did during that time as he was somewhere in the middle of the mountain waiting for Moses to come back down. I can only imagine what it looked like to see the mountain top covered in what looked like fire in the sky, but believe it or not that light shines in every saved, born again Christian, [2 Timothy 1:8-10 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Exodus 23:20-21 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.]
Today’s Prayer: God, While I know that we are no longer under the Law, I still want to live my life the best I can, and I know that I fail You every day. And even though all of these laws that You have written in Your Word do not apply to us, they do remind us that we are a holy people and ought to think twice about what we are doing so that we can live a holy life that glorifies You. Thank You for sending Your Son to to not only give me remission of my sins, but also restitution. Lord, as I await the promised land, lead me and guide me, let me not do anything with haste, that is unless it is something that You have called me to do. I love You and need You, and am nothing without You. I pray this in Your name, Jesus name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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