Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

First we continue with the various laws portion. It’s always good to remember that the Word was written without chapters and verse numbers. Those were added later (the Geneva Bible of 1560 was the first – although the 1599 version is more complete). There are times when a new chapter starts, but the concepts being taught are a continuation of what came before.

Disputes without personal resolution are to go before the judges who were to judge rightly. Bribes were forbidden. If there was a guilty party they were to be punished immediately in the presence of the judge. They were to be beaten for a number of times equal to their crimes, but not exceeding forty. By the time of Jesus, they gave thirty-nine stripes on the ‘just in case we counted wrong’ policy. However, Jesus was whipped by the ROMANS and not the Jews (John 19:1; Mark 15:15; Matthew 27:26). Victims for crucifixion (or other execution methods) who were whipped with the scourge, were whipped until the officer in charge decided it was enough. No set number. Because the scourge was so vicious and people could die under its lashes, an officer was put in charge whose sole job was to make sure the prisoner was alive to be executed. It might be ten times, fifty times, or a hundred times. Jesus did NOT receive the mercy of this commandment (no more than forty lashes) at the hands of the Romans. It only applied for the beatings He received from the Jewish guards.

An ox was not to be muzzled when it was working the fields so that it could graze and keep up its strength.

If a brother died without child, his wife was entitled to a child begotten by her deceased husband’s brother (or as some taught in the case of no brother a close male relative like a cousin or uncle of the deceased – but that isn’t what the Word stated). He was to take her as a wife and perform his duty in giving her a child who would have his deceased brother’s name and receive that deceased brother’s inheritance. This was to keep the inheritance of land in the right families. If the woman married out of the family, it would pass from them. It was also to guarantee that the widow woman was taken care of. She was protected and not left destitute. Of course, the man could refuse. But in that case she could take him before the elders of the town, take one of his sandals, and spit in his face. This was shameful to the man, but it clearly showed how she was being wronged. His line would forever be marked with the shame of having done this.

If two men were fighting, the wife of one of the men couldn’t even the fight by grabbing at the genitals of her husband’s opponent. Sexual organs weren’t toys and certainly weren’t leverage. They were to be treated with respect – even when they made a convenient target. If she did, she was going to lose her hand for it. Sexual contact was clean within a marriage of male and female. Other people had no right to touch people’s bits. And to make them part of strife and conflict was unacceptable. It was harsh, but you never see a record of this having occurred. Like with many harsh laws, the law was enough to keep people in line. The punishments never had to be meted out.

Don’t cheat. That’s pretty clear. Unequal weights for merchant dealings would mean someone was being cheated. God doesn’t want ANYTHING like that happening. Honest and upfront dealings – even if you’re not getting the ‘best’ deal. God puts cheating like this in the category of abomination. Nothing good is in that category and some things are quite severe. God views cheating as SEVERE.

They were AGAIN reminded to wipe Amalek out. Not even to remember them as a people. Amalek attacked them from behind. Amalek did not revere or respect God. Amalek was not to be spared or remembered in any way. If they had obeyed, David would not have been hurt by them (1 Samuel 30:1-3).

Tithing is something that existed before the Law (Genesis 14:19-20, 28:20–22; Exodus 35:21-22). Tithing was a response of JOY to TRUST (faith) in God for what God has done. It was to be professed orally and then followed by the tithe of money or a gift. In the Old Covenant a set amount was proscribed. In the New Covenant it is AS YOU ARE LED BY HOLY SPIRIT. Ten percent is a good starting point, but there is no limit. All the offerings and tithes of the Law accounted for about 30% of their yearly income. ANY amount is good, but it is to be HONEST (Acts 5:1-11) from HONEST MONEY (Deuteronomy 23:18) and given GENEROUSLY (Proverbs 11:24-25) with JOY (2 Corinthians 9:7). It is not the AMOUNT but the HEART that matters (Mark 12:41-44). Don’t give or tithe out of fear, out of compulsion, or out of duty. Don’t be swayed by people’s words. Only give how God asks you to. Give where you are fed (1 Corinthians 9:7-11, Galatians 6:6, 1 Timothy 5:17-18) and support your local church (1 Peter 5:1-2; Acts 20:35) because they support your community and the people in it who are in need (1 Timothy 5:3-13; James 1:27; Galatians 2:10). If God is your SOURCE, then it is all HIS anyway, right? You’re giving back to Him to show your reliance on Him, good stewardship of His resources, and obedience to His will since you KNOW that YOU will be COMPLETELY taken care of in ALL ways, always.

God reminds them they are to be obedient to all His commands NOT because He was demanding it, but because the Israelites were His SPECIAL PEOPLE (1 Peter 2:9-12). We’re His children. We should be honouring and obeying because He is our Father. Also because of all He does for us (and did for them). They weren’t even Hebrews when they went into Egypt. They were Syrians. Through the experience of bringing them out of Egypt He made them Israelites. In Jesus we are made His children as well. We weren’t before, but we are now (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Once they made it to the Land of Promise (God ALWAYS referred to it as a done deal), there was to be an altar set up on Mount Ebal with unhewn stones and great stones were to be set up nearby, plastered, and marked with ALL the Law (it is assumed this meant the 10 commandments, but there are more than that in the blessings and curses). They were to perform burnt offerings on the altar (Leviticus 1). They were to present peace offerings there (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-17), eat, and rejoice to God for what He had done for them. Joshua did all this in Joshua 8:30-35.

Then they were to split the people up. Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin were to go up to Mount Gerizim to represent Blessings. Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali were to go up to Mount Ebal to represent curses. The Levites would call out the curse for disobedience and all the people would agree shouting ‘Amen’. This was again making a covenant with God saying they WOULD OBEY the commandments. That they UNDERSTOOD the commandments. That they ACCEPTED the punishment for disobedience for themselves and all their offspring.

So they did. The first had to do with the second Commandment (Exodus 20:4-5). Next the fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12). Next a commandment of the explained Law (Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 23:10-11). Next a Levitical command (Leviticus 19:14). Next a command of justice (Exodus 22:21-24; Deuteronomy 24:17). Next prohibition against incest (Leviticus 18:6-18; Deuteronomy 22:30). Next prohibition against bestiality (Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15-16). Next a marriage law related to incest (Leviticus 18:9, 20:17). Next ANOTHER incest law (Leviticus 18:17, 20:14). Next a command against murder (Exodus 20:13, 21:12-14; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:31). Next a command against taking money to murder (Deuteronomy 27:24). Finally, a statement that anyone who does not conform to ALL of this objectively moral law by OBSERVING them (in deed, and word, and in the heart), would be cursed.

Stressing these particular commands and statutes out of all the Law they were given (including the Ten Commandments), makes me believe that these specific practises were rife in the land of Canaan. By making these common behaviours extra special warnings, God was boldly outlining the need to be separate and to NOT do ANYTHING of what the inhabitants of the land did that He said was immoral, abomination, and flat-out wrong (Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 18:3-5; Deuteronomy 26:18-19).

Summary

Key Players: God, Moses

Key Themes: Marriage, Obedience, Tithes, Disobedience

Key Verse(s): Deuteronomy 25:4, 13, 17-18; 26:1-2, 18-19; 27:15-26