Other People's Belongings (Ex. 22:7-15)

7/1/2008 4:18 PM

My Worship Time           Focus:  Other people’s belongings

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Exodus 22:7-15

            Message of the verses:  “7 ¶  "Suppose someone entrusts money or goods to a neighbor, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief is found, the fine is double the value of what was stolen.  8  But if the thief is not found, God will determine whether or not it was the neighbor who stole the property.  9  "Suppose there is a dispute between two people as to who owns a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or anything else. Both parties must come before God for a decision, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double to the other.

10  "Now suppose someone asks a neighbor to care for a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal, but it dies or is injured or gets away, and there is no eyewitness to report just what happened.  11  The neighbor must then take an oath of innocence in the presence of the LORD. The owner must accept the neighbor’s word, and no payment will be required.  12  But if the animal or property was stolen, payment must be made to the owner.  13  If it was attacked by a wild animal, the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no payment will be required.  14  "If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or killed, and if the owner was not there at the time, the person who borrowed it must pay for it.  15  But if the owner is there, no payment is required. And no payment is required if the animal was rented because this loss was covered by the rental fee.”

            This sections deals with laws dealing with neighbors.  Most of the nation of Israel did some kind of farming and therefore had animals to work on their farm or animals that they used for food.  Some of these laws deal with the animals that a person has and animals that could be lent to neighbors or they could be animals that are rented to a neighbor, or a neighbor may ask to have his animals or money or goods looked after by his neighbor.  What if something goes wrong when one of these things happen?  Well that is what these laws are all about, and in some cases when there is no way to prove whether or not a person is guilty of a crime they must go before the priest and the priest is go determine through the work of the Lord whether or not the party is guilty.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  If I do something wrong I have to realize that the Lord already knows all about what it was that I have done wrong and therefore this makes it all the more reason to make sure that I confess my sins before the Lord and keep short lists with the Lord.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide me in order to make good decisions.  Do things by faith.

Memory verses for the week:                      Colossians 4:12-13

12.    Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, send you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

13.    For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

7/1/2008 4:38 PM