Exodus chapter 22 continues unfolding the law. Verse 1 begins, “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and… he sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.” And later, “If a stolen animal is found alive in his possession… he must pay back double“. Notice how restitution’s focus is on remedying the harmed party rather than protecting the criminal’s rights. And the payback is not one-for one, the penalty is more costly than the crime. Verse 3 explains, “A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft.” Our society has become reluctant to recognize sin for what it is, and sadly we try to prevent any consequences. As a result, petty crime escalates into major crime, and shame is turned to blaming someone else. Our prisons would not be nearly as full if crime and violence in the youth were not rationalized as “caused by circumstances”. Poverty does not cause crime, tolerance for sin does. Verse 2 adds, “If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed… but if it happens after sunrise he is guilty of bloodshed“. Again we see the limitations on retaliation, presumably if it happens during daylight, the defender should be awake and alert and not need to resort to the same level of defense.
1 Thessalonians chapter 4-5 warns believers to be ready for the day Jesus Christ will return for His church. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again… the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God…then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together… to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” After describing the glorious reuniting of Jesus with His church, the apostle explains we are to be ready and live with anticipation of the day of the Lord. “For the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night…but you brethren are not in the darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief… but let us be alert and sober… for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ“. Notice Jesus redeemed us by His blood, we are His possessions that He is reclaiming. But to those non-believers that are still in darkness it will seem like a theft. If Jesus came today, would it be a reunion, or a rip-off to you?
Verse 5 explains, “If a man grazes… in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field“. And the next verse adds, “If a fire breaks out and spreads… the one who started the fire must make restitution“. Two more good reminders to us today; we are to be careful with controlling our wealth and our judgment of others! Individually we have so much abundance, yet many of us are in debt. We cannot use our wealth to honor God when we are paying so much in interest. Let’s give the “best from our fields” for godly purposes. And as important as it is to call sin by it’s true name, we must not forget that Jesus died for the sinner not the pious. Do not let your hate for the sin destroy God’s love for the sinner. In John 10:10 Jesus is describing how Satan tries to steal our hope; “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly“. May you know the abundance of a life lived with Christ.