Bible in 365 Days

Exodus 22-24

Exodus 22

The laws of property follow. The section really begins with Exodus 21:33 of the previous chapter. These laws also began by laying emphasis on the guilt of carelessness. The truth emphasized is that no man must live his life on the basis of selfishness or wholly alone and that wrong inflicted on neighbor by neighbor in the material realm becomes sin against God in the moral realm.

Specific instructions were given on the responsibility of trustees. Within clearly defined limitations, a man is to be held responsible for goods deposited with him.

A group of laws seemingly having no direct sequence or connection follows. Two of them deal with sins of unchastity. Between these occurs a blunt and stem word, "Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live." Humanity has ever had a craving after what sometimes is termed the occult. Invariably such traffic is injurious to life.

A law characterized by great tenderness was enunciated for the protection of the stranger, showing that God hears the cry and avenges the sorrows of any oppressed people.

While the rights of property had been carefully safeguarded in previous words, now the inherent rights of life were shown to be superior. Usury was not to be practiced, and necessary things held in pledge must be restored for necessary use.

Closely following on these laws which make serious demands on men, we have words demanding reverence for God expressed in fidelity to Him in the matter of offerings.

Exodus 23

The enactments now recorded have to do with the administration of justice. A study of them reveals that true justice is always merciful and yet makes sterner demand than any moral code of laws. The divine estimate of justice forbids wresting judgment, accepting bribes, and oppression.

The feasts of the Lord are placed in their relation to the people's social life. The sabbatical year was arranged in the interests of the poor. The rest of the Sabbath is more than selfish, cattle and servants being included in its intention. Community interest underlay the command to observe the three great feasts.

At the close of the section enunciating these laws of application, we have the record of how Jehovah made a gracious promise of that Presence which would lead and guide the people in all the days to come. There can be no question that this Angel Presence was the Angel Jehovah through whom these people received a manifestation of God. The most natural deduction is to identify this mystic Person with Him who eventually became flesh and dwelt among us. This Angel Presence was to ensure blessing to the people and drive out their foes before them.

Concerning the people to be driven out, it is worthy of note that this paragraph shows that "their gods" were their undoing. Everything in the life of a man or a nation depends on the character of its worship. Whatever is worshiped is served. The service ennobles or degrades according to the character of those worshipped.

Exodus 24

We now come to the story of the preparation for the true order of worship. The elders of Israel were called to approach in company with Moses. So far as it had been received, the law was repeated in their hearing. This was immediately followed by the offering of sacrifice and the shedding of blood. Thus at the very heart of these laws for the conditioning of national life the necessity for sacrifice was solemnly emphasized.

Perhaps there is nothing more august in all the inspired ceremony than the account of the approach of the elders. We are told that "they saw the God of Israel." No description is given of what they saw. It may be that God manifested Himself to these men in the Angel Presence which He had promised. However, in all probability it is better to leave the sublime statement as it stands, remembering that it may be interpreted by the facts which followed. Almost immediately afterward Moses went into yet closer union with God and, as we shall find in a subsequent chapter, notwithstanding that closer union he craved something beyond it. In response, he received the declaration that none could see God and live. Spiritual intelligence will easily understand that there is no contradiction here. These men saw God and yet the infinite and final Essence could not be seen. The vision was characterized for the elders by immunity from judgment, for on them "He laid not His hand," and, moreover, by a sacred act of communion in which they "did eat and drink."

After this, Moses was called to go beyond the elders into the midst of the mount. There we may not follow him. We may see only what the children of Israel saw during those days, an appearance like "a devouring fire." Into that fire Presence Moses passed to receive the law in fuller detail and to see the heavenly things and to learn the pattern of earthly worship.