EXODUS: The Lord God Meets with Moses and the Elders of Israel; "Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel."

Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. (Exodus 24:9-10) 

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18; I John 4:12) So then, who did Moses and the others with him actually see? The only begotten Son, Lord God. Remember, in the beginning, God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;... (Genesis 1:26) Then, when God the Father and Creator finished creating all things, God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. ... And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:3, 7) And the Lord God walking in the garden [of Eden] in the cool of the day,... (Genesis 3:8)

Lord God, the Son of God, Christ Jesus, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created [made] that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created [made] through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

The Lord God, Christ Jesus is the God of Israel. That's why at His baptism by John the Baptist, suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22)  And again, at His transfiguration on the mountain before His disciples, And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ... While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:30-31, 34-35; Matthew 17:3,5; Mark 9:4,7) Then, after His crucifixion, burial and resurrection, while He was speaking to His disciples one last time, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19) 

So, who did Moses and the others with him actually see? Christ Jesus, Lord God, God's Beloved Son. The same Lord God Who had appeared to Abraham as the priest, Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-24; Hebrews 5-7); the same Lord Who came to Abraham with His two angels, before they destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-19:29); the same Man Who wrestled with Jacob until morning (Genesis 32:22-32) And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank. (Exodus 24:10-11) They saw His feet, but not His face.  We'll study more about why in a future lesson.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. (Exodus 24:12-15) 

Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:16-18)

Awesome, that God would allow man to have fellowship with Him! What is man that You are mindful of him,And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:4-5) Let's not misunderstand, Lord God, the Son of God is meeting with Moses; and God the Father is the cloud that covered the mountain for six days, just like God the Father at Christ Jesus transfiguration came in a cloud and overshadowed them. As He also said to the Jews, "I and My Father are one.” ...‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10:30, 36-38)

He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the Lord God would give Moses a lot of instructions during the forty days and forty nights...

EXODUS: Moses Does for the Children of Israel what Christ Jesus would do for All of Us Who Believe; And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”

Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him.” (Exodus 24:1-2) 

When God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain,... (Exodus 19:1-3) 

So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. (Exodus 19:7-9) 

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. (Exodus 19:16-17) 

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. (Exodus 19:18-20)

Then the Lord said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them. (Exodus 19:24-25) And then God proceeded to speak from the mountain to the children of Israel, and He gave them the ten commandments.

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20:18-21)

When Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was, God proceeded to give him the laws that specifically applied to the ten commandments. So 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 has said we will do.” And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 24:3-4) 

This altar and twelve pillars symbolize what Christ Jesus would later say to His disciples, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30) God's covenant with the children of Israel is forever, and would be confirmed by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus at His altar, His table, on the cross.

Before Christ Jesus was crucified, He instituted the Lord's Supper, And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24)

Moses would have the children of Israel make a sacrifice to God. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. (Exodus 24:5-6) 

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.” (Exodus 24:7-8)

Just as when Christ Jesus was crucified, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (John 19:34) The blood Moses sprinkled on the alter symbolized the blood sacrifice of Christ Jesus for our sins. The blood Moses sprinkled on the people symbolized the water that from Christ Jesus that purifies us from our sins. The blood and the water covers us and sanctifies us, sets us apart to God, just like the children of Israel were set apart by God. 

This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. (I John 5:6-8)

One other important thing is that Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. The Word of God is the Word of God, written by man; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20-21) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

EXODUS: God's Angel will Guide Us, if We Obey His Voice; “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared."

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. (Exodus 23:20-21)

As a quick review, Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) 

So they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 12 :5-8)

Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 13:1-4)

Abraham had originally inherited the land of Canaan, and he placed an altar in the land to mark his territory. Later, God would make this same promise to his son, Isaac. Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” (Genesis 26:1-5)

Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. ... And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” 

Then he went up from there to Beersheba. And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well. (Genesis 36:17-18,22-25)

Isaac acquired more of the land in Canaan, and he built an altar but also dug a well to mark his territory. His son, Jacob would do the same thing after he and his family would return from Haran. Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel. (Genesis 33:18-20)

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” ... And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people whowere with him. And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.(Genesis 35:1, 5-7)

Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath,... Then Israel [aka Jacob] journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. (Genesis 35:9-16, 21)

The point of this was review was for us to understand that God was taking the children of Israel back to the land that their forefathers had already acquired and purchased. When the severe seven year famine came in the land, Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.” So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.” (Genesis 46:1-4)

Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations. (Exodus 12:40-42)

So, after being in Egypt for 430 years, of course the nations in the area of Canaan moved into their land. Therefore, God would have to drive those nations out in order for the children of Israel to reclaim their land that was acquired and purchased by their forefathers. That's why God was sending an Angel before them to keep them in the way and to bring them into the place which I have prepared. But they couldn't go into the land any kind of way, they had to obey the voice of God through His Angel, because God's name is in Him. 

Just as Christ Jesus told the Jews who refused to believe He was the Son of God, "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. ... It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.” (John 8:51, 54-55) Christ Jesus, the Son of God, Lord God in the flesh is the Angel whom God would send to lead the children of Israel into the promised land.  And just as they had to obey His voice in order to be saved and defeat their enemies, we have to do the same today.

"But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. (Exodus 23:22-24)

“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. (Exodus 23:25-26)

“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. (Exodus 23:27-30)

"And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” (Exodus 23:31-33)

God is able to bless us exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,... (Ephesians 3:20) We just have to obey His voice, obey His Word; and the first thing we have to obey is the first commandment, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:2-3) Christ Jesus taught it this way, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38) “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. (Mark 12:29-30)

If we love love God above all others, and turn away from all false gods and false teachings and false beliefs; if we study His Word daily and meditate on it, and allow it to transform our minds and change our hearts; if we accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and allow His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all Truth; then, just like God promised the children of Israel He would will be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, and will make all their enemies turn their backs to them, He will do the same for us. "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17) AMEN!

EXODUS: Why, to Whom, and Where to Bring Tithes and Offerings; "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God."

"The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. (Exodus 23:19) 

The Lord God was instructing the children of Israel not to sacrifice a firstborn animal and then cook it in it's mother's milk.  We'll learn more about in a future lesson. However, this is the first time the Lord God refers to bringing firstfruits (aka tithes and offerings) to the house of the Lord your God. The children of Israel have not built a house of the Lord your God yet. 

The Lord God will give instruction on the building of the house of the Lord your God in a few lesson.  But bringing the firstfruits of your land into the house of the Lord your God is a very important lesson that we need to make sure we understand and apply, even today. The Lord God will give the reason as to why this must be done in future lessons, when He establishes the priestly duties for His house, but we're going to explain some of the reason why now.

Remember, the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram. (Genesis 35:22-26)

The Lord God will establish the priestly duties to the tribe of Levi. Generations later, after the children of Israel go into captivity and then return to the promised land, Nehemiah would lead them to rebuild a temple, a house of the Lord their God. And he would give this instruction, And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord; to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God; to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse. (Nehemiah 10:35-38)

The above scriptures explains all of the reasons why we should pay tithes and offerings, and to whom we should pay them, and where we should bring them. Why? Because tithes and offerings are a sacrifice we make to God for blessing us with what we need.  If we are obedient in this area of our lives, to trust Him enough to give Him at least 10% of what He's given us, and to be wise stewards with the remaining 90%, He will provide us with more than we need. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:8-12)

Who? We are to pay the tithes and the offerings to God, but we are to bring them to the Levites, the priests, the pastors who teach us the Word of God, who present [themselves] approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15) The main reason is because of the responsibility God has given them. Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ... Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:7,17) As the Apostle Peter explained when the church was established after Christ resurrection and ascension, when the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. ... but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2-4)

Which leads to the last part of the reason we are to bring our tithes and offerings to the Levites, the priests, the pastors, is because if they give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word, they need to be able to earn an income to take care of their needs also.  Their job is the Word of God and ministering to the church, therefore the church body needs to provide them with their income; the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse. All that the priests or pastors receive from the church body, they are to save at least 10% of it for whatever need may come up among the church body. From the remaining 90%, they are to take care of the responsibilities of the church and ministry, and use a portion to take care of their needs. 

Where? Because of the needs of the Levites, the priests, the pastors, the church body, the tithes and offerings are to be brought to the house of the Lord, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse. In other words, bring your tithes and offerings to church, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Yes, we live in a corrupt world, and there are many churches with leaders who are corrupt. BUT, the majority are not, and each of us can find a church family that we can become a part of and obey the Word of God by: 1. giving our tithes and our offerings, at least 10% of what God has blessed us with; 2. bringing it to a church whose leader, pastor is teaching the Word of God accurately and boldly; and 3. bringing it to a church that will use it the way God wills, to help others while maintaining the needs and upkeep of the building and it's leader. Bring the first of the firstfruits of your land into the house of the Lord your God. AMEN!

EXODUS: The Feasts of Unleavened Bread and Weeks were a Foreshadowing of Christ Jesus; You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering."

“Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year:... (Exodus 23:14)

The Lord God finished giving Moses the instruction for the children of Israel regarding the laws. Now, we would give instructions regarding the annual feasts. Remember, when the Lord God had the children of Israel sacrifice a lamb per household and put the blood of the lamb over their doorposts, " ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.'" (Exodus 12:12-13)

The Lord God went on to instruct them, "‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.'" (Exodus 12:14-16)

"So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.  For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land.  You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’” (Exodus 12:17-20)

Well, the Lord God meant what He said, because now, He would reiterate that to the children of Israel through Moses, "You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread [aka Passover, Pentecost] (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);... (Exodus 23:14-15)

"...and the Feast of Harvest, [aka Feast of Weeks] the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. (Exodus 23:16)

“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. (Exodus 23:17) The Lord God would go into more detail regarding the Feast of Weeks (aka Feast of Harvest and Feast of Ingathering) in a future lesson, and why the males had to present it. He will also instruct the children of Israel of on several other Feasts they are to observe. But the important thing for us to learn from this is that "it foreshadows the coming Messiah and His ministry. Each and every one of the seven Jewish Feasts signifies an important aspect of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. 

"Jesus was crucified as the “Passover Lamb” and rose from the grave at the Feast of Firstfruits. Following His resurrection, Jesus spent the next 40 days teaching His disciples before ascending to heaven (Acts 1). Fifty days after His resurrection and after ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as promised (John 14:16–17) to indwell the disciples and empower them for ministry. The promised Holy Spirit arrived on the Day of Pentecost, which is another name for the Feast of Weeks. 

"The spiritual significances of the Feast of Weeks are many. Some see the two loaves of leavened bread that were to be a wave offering as foreshadowing the time when the Messiah would make both Jew and Gentile to be one in Him (Ephesians 2:14–15). This is also the only feast where leavened bread is used. Leaven in Scripture is often used symbolically of sin, and the leavened bread used in the Feast of Weeks is thought to be representative of the fact that there is still sin within the church (body of Christ) and will be until Christ returns again. 

"On the Day of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, the “firstfruits” of the church were gathered by Christ as some 3,000 people heard Peter present the gospel after the Holy Spirit had empowered and indwelt the disciples as promised. With the promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the first fruits of God’s spiritual harvest under the New Covenant began. Today that harvest continues as people continue to be saved, but there is also another coming harvest whereby God will again turn His attention back to Israel so that “all of Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26)." (read "What is the Feast of Weeks?") 

“You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until morning. (Exodus 23:18) Yet again, this is also a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ Jesus.  When the Lord God instituted the Passover, He told the children of Israel, "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats." (Exodus 12:5) That represented being without sin, therefore the bread had to be unleavened because that also represented being without sin. Christ Jesus fulfilled this holy requirement; And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. (I John 3:5)

The Apostle Paul explained it this way, Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (I Corinthians 5:6-8) AMEN!

EXODUS: The Lord God Gives the Law Regarding the Sabbaths; "Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest. Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest."

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:9-11)

The Lord God continued giving the laws that clarified the ten commandments originally given to Moses for the children of Israel. He concluded by giving further instruction regarding sabbaths, the seventh day or year.

“Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove. (Exodus 23:10-11)

Mainly, the poor of your people were the strangers, widows and orphans. Most of them did not own land, but had to work in someone else's fields in order to have food. The Lord God is always concerned with their well-being, and instructed the children of Israel, “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22:21-24)

The Lord God makes provision for the poor by stating in the law that after the children of Israel harvest their lands for six years, the seventh year, they are to let the poor - the strangers, the widows, the orphans harvest, so that they could work to gather enough for themselves without having to work for the landowner at the same time. This was not a handout you by God, but rather a way for them to work for what they needed also, without having the additional burden of working for the landowner at the same time. 

Let this be a lesson to all of us, no matter what our situation in life, if we want something, anything, we have to work for it.  We should never expect others to give us something because we're poor or disadvantaged or are in a difficult situation.  As the Apostle Paul instructed Christians, For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (II Thessalonians 3:10-12)

But we must also be mindful that those of us who have have to give those who don't have the opportunity to work for what they need. The Lord God instructed the land owner to let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. We can't get so caught up in getting and having more that we never give others the opportunity to get and have. As Cain asked the Lord God, "Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) The answer is, YES! Therefore, Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:3-4)

"Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. (Exodus 23:12) Christ Jesus taught, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27) Just as, the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3)

The children of Israel were laboring hard everyday, traveling from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan, laboring to build their nation. God, in His Omniscience, designated a day for everyone and everything to rest, so that they could be refreshed. We need to make sure we practice observing a Sabbath day also, because most of us are always on the go doing something, but we need to stop sometimes and just rest.

It doesn't matter which day, as the Apostle Paul taught, One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. (Romans 14:5-6) The main thing is to give ourselves one day to rest from our normal routine and be refreshed.

“And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. (Exodus 23:13) As the children of Israel travel towards the promised land, they were going to come in contact with other nations that had religious practices similar to what they left in Egypt. When the Lord God sent the tenth and final plague in Egypt, He stated, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord." (Exodus 12:12)

He reiterated this in the first of the ten commandments, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:2-3) There is only One True God, the Father and Creator of us all! No matter what society says, or spiritualist teach, there is only One JEHOVAH! All paths do not lead to God. God Himself said to the children of Israel, and He has not changed, but requires the same from each of us today, " Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6)

None of us of our own strength can obey God's voice perfectly and keep every covenant He commands, we can't remember most of them. That's why they only path the truly leads to God is Christ Jesus. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) He is the only One that knows all of God Word's and commandments because In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-2, 14)

Not only is Christ Jesus the Word and the Son of God, but He was also the Son of Man, and this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:12-14) Through faith in Christ Jesus, He has made us perfect, right with God and we are sanctified, set apart by Christ Jesus for God; therefore, we shall have no other gods before Him.

EXODUS: The Lord God Gives the Laws of Moral Human Relationships; "If a man entices a virgin, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not charge him interest. You shall not circulate a false report."

“You shall have no other gods before Me. ... You shall not commit adultery. ... You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:3,14,16) 

The Lord God continued to give the children of Israel specific laws that clarified the meaning behind the ten commandments. Now, He would explain how they were to behave morally towards each other.

“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins. (Exodus 22:16-17) 

Remember, God intended for sexual relationships to only be between one man and one woman who are married. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:24-25) And Christ Jesus confirmed it when He said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-9)

Because the Lord God sees sexual relationships as consummation of a marriage covenant, the penalty for committing this sin is very great, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Romans 1:27) That's why sexual sin is such an abomination to God, and if we refuse to repent of these sins, Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9-10) 

The Lord God made it the man's responsibility to make restitution for committing this sin, either he married the woman or pay the woman's father the bride-price, even if he didn't marry her. This is exactly what happened with Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. (Genesis 34:2) Later, Shechem came to Jacob and his sons and asked, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.” (Genesis 34:11-12)

Just as fornicating and committing adultery are abominations to God, so is having a sexual relationship with an animal, so much so that He said, “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 22:19) That should be obvious, but obviously not, for the Lord God to include it in His laws. No more explanation should be necessary. We are to "...have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) Not have sex with them!

“You shall not permit a sorceress to live. (Exodus 22:18) A sorcerer or sorceress is a person who practices sorcery, the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining; the use of magic, especially black magic. Remember, when Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh to ask him to let the children of Israel go, the Lord God instructed them to throw down Moses rod so that it would turn into a serpent. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. (Exodus 7:11-12)

Many times, these sorcerers and mediums and magicians and card readers, etc. appear to have the same power as God, but they are using power given to them by Satan and his angels. The Lord God will give laws regarding how to or not to deal with these types of people, but for now, we can learn from the example of Moses' rod how He feels about their practices; But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. (Exodus 7:12)

“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. (Exodus 22:20) We are not to put any other gods before the One True Living God, the Father and Creator of us all! Other gods aren't just people, but they can be things. The Lord God was very clear in the ten commandments, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,..." (Exodus 20:4-5) There is only one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:6)

“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.  If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22:22-24) God is very concerned with widows and orphans because they were the most helpless of people at that time, and we should be also. The Apostle James explained what religion really is; Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27) 

“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious. (Exodus 22:25-27) Yet again, pretty self explanatory! If someone is poor and needs to borrow, don't add an additional burden to them by charging them more than they borrow. As long as they are able to repay what we lent them, that should suffice us. And if we can help someone without taking the last of what they have as payment, we should do so.  The Lord God will bless us in return.

“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. (Exodus 22:28) This is very applicable for today, as much as people speak against and disrespect those in positions of authority. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. (Romans 13:1-4) All leaders aren't good, but all are to be respected; and if we do good, we should not have any issues with them, but we have to be sure we are doing good.

“You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me. (Exodus 22:29-30) Again, we are to give our firstfruits and tithes to God. From the beginning, Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,... (Genesis 4:4) Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

“And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. (Exodus 22:31) The Lord God will give more detail as to why animals should not be eaten unless prepared a certain way in a future study about the laws. The main reason for this is the issue of the blood being removed from the animal. Remember, the Lord God instructed Noah when He delivered him and his family and the animals from the flood and let them out of the ark, "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." (Genesis 9:3-4) We have to be very careful that all blood is removed from an animal before we eat it's meat.

“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. (Exodus 23:1-3) 

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. (Exodus 23:4-5) 

“You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. (Exodus 23:6-8) 

God hates lying and bearing false witness against our neighbor. These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) We are always to tell the truth or say nothing at all! Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:17-18)

“You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 22:21) “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 23:9) Finally, in other words, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)

Regarding how we are to treat God and each other, Christ Jesus summarized it best when He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Galatians 5:14-15)

EXODUS: The Lord God Gives the Laws Regarding Repayment and Restitution; "For any kind of trespass, which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor."

“You shall not steal. ... You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:15, 17) 

The Lord God continued to give the children of Israel specific laws that clarified the meaning behind the ten commandments. Now, He would explain how to treat other people's property and how to make restitution if something were to happen to someone else's property for various reasons.

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. (Exodus 22:1-4) 

Many of the laws of the land today are based on the laws of God given to the children of Israel. Stealing, and breaking and entering are pretty much handled the same way today. If someone steals, the courts determine the statutory minimum value of the property, and the thief has to pay that amount plus additional court costs or go to jail. If someone breaks and enters into a house, and the owner of the house is there and defends his house and property and ends up killing the thief, the owner is usually found not guilty because of self defense. 

“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. (Exodus 22:5) 

“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. (Exodus 22:6) 

We hear often in the news how someone's animal broke loose and destroyed someone else's property or how someone started a fire and it got out of control and turned into a forest fire. The owner of the animal or the person who started the fire are to be held responsible and  to make restitution for the damage caused. 

“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods. For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. (Exodus 22:7-9)

If we have someone else's property in our possession, regardless of the reason why, and it is stolen, if the thief and the property can't be found, then we have to make restitution to the owner of the property.  That is what's fair and just, and if necessary, we may have to go to a judge to mediate and make a final determination.

"If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then an oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn. (Exodus 22:10-13) 

“And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire. (Exodus 22:14-15)

If we borrow some else's property and it breaks or quits working on it's own, from no fault of how we used it, then an oath of the Lord shall be between us both, and the owner is not to try and make us pay them back. However, if we took someone else's property to use without their knowing, then the punishment for stealing is to be used.

Christ Jesus taught the disciples to pray, and He included, "And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12) Even though the law requires people to make restitution for various reasons, if they are not in a position to do so, their asking and us giving them forgiveness is payment enough many times. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)

As Christians, we should not do as the world does to resolve every issue of wrong doing. The Apostle Paul explained it clearly, Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! (I Corinthians 6:1-6) 

Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! (I Corinthians 6:7-8) Just because we have the right to make someone pay us back doesn't necessarily mean we have to enforce it, especially when the issue is between us and another Christian. Remember, ultimately they will have to answer to God. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

EXODUS: The Lord God Gives the Laws Against Violence; "You shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:12-13)

In the previous lessons, we've been studying that the Lord God commanded the children of Israel through Moses, "... if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6) He did not choose them because they were better than any other nation of people, but because He had promised their forefathers - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

So now they are a nation on the move, from Egypt towards the promised land; and, He is establishing this laws and commandments for them, because they were going to represent Him before the world. Just as He said to Moses before they left Egypt, "“I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord [JEHOVAH] I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers." (Exodus 6:2-4)

First, He gave them the ten commandments. (Exodus 20:1-17) The first four commandments deal with how we are to treat God. The remaining six deal with how we are to treat each other. The laws in this study go into more detail of the last six commandments. The commandments tell us what we should and or should not do. The laws explain the punishment to be administered if we break the commandments.

“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die. (Exodus 21:12-14) 

“And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 21:15) “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 21:17) 

“He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 21:16) “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed. (Exodus 21:18-19) 

“And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property. (Exodus 21:20-21) 

“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:22-25) 

“If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth. (Exodus 21:26-27) 

The moral is we are not to commit murder, the premeditated killing of another human being. We should not kill either, the unpremeditated taking of another person's life. However, if either of these crimes are committed, the just punishment is death of the person who committed the crime, except for the certain exceptions specified.  We should thank God even more for the mercy shown to us through our faith in Christ Jesus, because under such strict requirements, all of us would justly be put to death, even if we did no more than curses our father or our mother.

Christ Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Matthew 5:38-39) What Jesus was saying was don't fight back, don't seek revenge. Just let the smaller issues go. Instead of having a whole bunch of people walking around without eyes, teeth, hands or feet, covered in burns, wounds and stripes, just let him go free. Remember, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30)

“If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. If there is imposed on him a sum of money, then he shall pay to redeem his life, whatever is imposed on him. Whether it has gored a son or gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. (Exodus 21:28-32) 

“And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it, the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead animal shall be his. (Exodus 21:33-34) 

“If one man’s ox hurts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide the money from it; and the dead ox they shall also divide. Or if it was known that the ox tended to thrust in time past, and its owner has not kept it confined, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall be his own. (Exodus 21:35-36)

The punishment for violence towards animals is different than the punishment of violence towards another human being.  Remember, when God created mankind, male and female, He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) Animals are never to be considered as equal to man. We have dominion over them, and they were created for us, not us for them.

We should take care of the animals, but if an animal harms a human being, they are to be killed. If the owner of the animal knew that the animal had violent tendencies towards humans but didn't do anything to contain the animal, then the Lord God would command that the animal be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. Because of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus for our sins, the owner doesn't have to be killed, but he should suffer the consequences, whether If there is imposed on him a sum of money, then he shall pay to redeem his life, whatever is imposed on him; according to this judgment it shall be done to him. 

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! ... You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen— even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1-9) AMEN!