Exodus 22

Blasphemy & Death

To this point no punishment has yet been handed down for blasphemy despite it’s prohibition (Ex20:7;22:28. It would stand to reason, then, that it is likely to this point that no one HAS blasphemed the Lord.

Along comes this half-Egyptian/half-Hebrew fellow. Who does not simply blaspheme, but blasphemes AND curses! We’ll get to what those mean in a moment, but first it’s noteworthy that this man — whose father is never identified — gets into a fight with an Israelite man. We are never really told why this happens, but from the details we DO have, I think we can make some educated guesses.

Now we know that the man’s mother was from the tribe of Dan. And I suppose it’s likely that this man who chose to come with the Israelites wanted to settle with the tribe of Dan. But it’s also likely that the Danites were not open to this fellow’s inclusion. Remember that lineage came from the father. And this man’s lineage was not Israelite, but rather Egyptian. So it’s entirely possible that the man was not welcomed into the tribe of Dan as he had hoped. This probably was not a new development, but perhaps one that had not been resolved to this point and finally came to blows.

And during the fight, the fateful words spill out. Remember that words uttered in the heat of a moment are not lies, but concealed truths of the heart. And the truth was that this man blasphemed and cursed God.

The word blaspheme means to pierce, puncture, or strike through. And the word curse means to make light of or trifle with. This man had no respect or reverence for God and dissension in this nascent, previously lawless group now known as Israelites could not be tolerated. I know this seems barbaric by today’s standards, but the world was a different place four thousand years ago. Heck, the world was a different place TWO HUNDRED years ago. In 19th century England you could be hanged for stealing as little as a shekel (~$30 today)!

Today’s takeaway is this: the truth will find you out. Take heart in or heed of that as you will.

Feb 24 | Lev 23:1-25:23 | 055/365

Case Law & The Bible

Often when we read parts of Exodus and Leviticus we can find ourselves asking, “What does this have to do with me, today? I have no current or future plans to cook a goat in its mother’s milk.”

I get it. Some of these rules are confusing and even downright esoteric. I think in cases like these we can try to step back and look at what is happening overall. Who are these laws protecting?

Young women, foreigners, widows, orphans, the poor, even our enemies. These are people who are disadvantaged, even hated. Yet God calls us to deal fairly with them. Not to take advantage of a situation where we can gain at their expense (I mean, what are they even going to do about it?), not to take an opportunity for revenge, not to seek personal elevation where we have to step on someone else to achieve it.

As we read through passages like these, we should pray for God’s guidance as we both 1) look for principles rather than specific rules, and 2) look for modern analogs to these ancient situations.

It is also worth remembering that just because God has offered guidance on a situation, does not mean that he condones every (or any) action being addressed. A prime example being the seduction of a virgin girl. God is telling them how to deal with these things when they happen, not telling people it’s okay to get into these situations.

Exodus 22:16-24:18 | 039/365

God & Polygamy

It is often said that the Bible turns a blind eye to polygamy, and I admit that I find it troubling that God is not stronger on this issue, particularly in the Old Testament where such activity is rife, even among the men we consider “heroes” of the faith. While we can point to cultural realities and Progressive Revelation, these do little to alleviate the bitter taste in our mouths. I don’t have all the answers, but I am continuing to dig deeper into the more troubling passages.

Exodus 21:7-11.

A female slave should not be set free like male slaves. Unfair! — This is because the girl is given (for any number of reasons beyond the scope of today’s devotional) for the purpose of marriage.

If she is “displeasing”!? — The word means ‘evil’ or even ‘immoral’. This is not a fickle judgement, but a serious flaw that emerges.

So what then? — Well, since they are effectively engaged, he must allow her to be redeemed by her family (if they can afford it), but she can NOT be sold again to foreigners, because HE has be “unfair” (this word means unfaithful, treacherous, and even deceitful).

He then has the option to give her to his son in marriage, but if he does that, she is no longer a servant, but a daughter.

If he “takes another wife”? Boom! God’s loves polygamy. — Easy, cowboy. The word CAN mean an additional wife, but it can also mean a DIFFERENT wife (Lv 20:27; De 11:16; Jb 31:8).

Oh yeah, explain “conjugal rights” hot shot!? —  This word appears only a single time in the Bible. Here. And the meaning is quite unclear. What are “marriage rights”? Other documents from this time and region of the world have a similar list, but the third item is shelter/oil/things a wife would expect from her husband. Sex could be inferred by the reader, but it is not in the text.

And if he cannot or will not provide these things, she is to be released with no strings attached. Essentially this man has four options. 1) Marry her 2) Have his son marry her 3) Sell her back to her family 4) Release her free and clear.

I find no compelling reason to read an endorsement of polygamy here. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Exodus 20:1-22:15 | 038/365