6/29/2008 7:34 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Stealing Animals
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: Exodus 22:1-4
Message of the verses: “1 ¶
"If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he
shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. 2
"If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he
dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. 3
"But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on
his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he
shall be sold for his theft. 4 "If what he stole is actually found
alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay
double.”
The Law of
God required different penalties for these different crimes. There was a different penalty for stealing a
sheep an and ox, for the person who steals it had to give back five oxen for an
ox that was sold or killed by the thief and four sheep if the sheep is killed or
sold by the thief. If the thief is caught
with the animals then he had to pay double back to the owner of the animals for
the crime of stealing them.
If the
thief worked in the darkness of night and was killed then there was no penalty
for killing the thief, but if the thief was working in the daylight and was
killed the person who killed him was guilty of murder and had to be executed,
for that person could see what was going on and whether or not the thief was
armed and it would also be easier for them to get help from a neighbor.
Dr. Wiersbe
brings up a couple of stories from Scripture that show how these laws were
demonstrated. In the case of David when
he actually had stolen a “lamb,” Bathsheba from her husband and had him killed he
told the prophet Nathan that the thief should pay back four times, which he did
by having his baby die, Ammon and Absalom both killed and Tamar was raped. Zaccheus told the Lord Jesus that he would
pay back four times to whom he had stolen from in Luke 19:8, so the principle
of this law is seen in these two stories from the Bible.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: There are many different ways to steal
something that may not seem at the time to be stealing. A person can steal time from their boss, or
even take little items like pens or pencils, or a person can steal a lustful
look at someone else’s wife or girlfriend.
I have been guilty of this kind of stealing and needed forgiveness for
it.
My Steps of Faith for
Today:
- Repay some of the pens that I took from church while working there.
- Give myself to the Lord for service and worship today.
- Be yoked with the Lord Jesus Christ today for his burden is light and mine is not.
- Seek the Lord to guide me on the right paths.
- Know that the Lord will make a way of escape when the tests, trials, and temptations are to difficult for me to bear.
Memory verses for the week: Colossians
4:12-13
12.
Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave
of Jesus Christ, sends 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
6/29/2008 8:17 AM
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