Laws About Restitution

 

 

Exodus 21:33-36

 

September 21, 2024

 

Laws About Restitution

“When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,  the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.

 “When one man's ox butts another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share.  Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

I live in the state of Texas, in the country of the United States of America, and in Texas, as well as the USA, we have problems with lawbreakers. One of my dear friends was Herbert Weeks, a captain in the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Herbert was a man of integrity, and he loved the Lord, and often I had him speak at Lay Renewal to men.

 

The captain did not mix words. This was his opening line, many of you find Christian men, encourage my young troupers to break the law.  If you ask him to fix a ticket, and he crosses the line, he/she is now corrupted.   It got really quiet when Captain spoke, and many in that room of men who had the title of Christian were wondering why he was so worked up over such a small thing.  He went on to say to then cross that line, and it is easy to cross others.

 

Is that not true in our Culture? Have you noticed how many people are breaking traffic laws, with no regard for red lights and the speed limit?  I was pulled over a couple of months ago for exceeding the speed limit. I had a good reason, I was running late for a doctor’s appointment.   But my excuse was not in keeping with the law; I was a lawbreaker, and the policeman was kind and let me go with a warning.

 

I want you to reread the three verses above and ask yourself this question: Is God wiser than man?  If you have a problem with that answer, then you need to sit in a quiet room and have a talk with your Creator.  Without a doubt, He is.  We are lawbreakers. I used traffic and driving to make a point, but I could have used lying or stealing to make the same point.  We have all fallen short in this area; you and I have stolen, only a little thing like a pen or notepad, or a posted note from work, but God calls that stealing.  

 

What about telling someone a lie? It's so great to have run into you today. I’ve been wanting to see you. Where the truth is, I have not given a thought about that person in years.  Yes, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

 

As we enter a time of National elections, our thoughts go to how the other side cheats.  I’ve come to the understanding that without Truth and Jesus being the Truth, we as a people will do and say evil things.  As a follower of Jesus, I must do as He has said, pray for my enemies, which is a full-time job, in that many who have never known you hate you for being a follower of Christ.

 

We, as followers of Christ, must have only Christ as our leader, not some political party.  Pray that God’s will is done. If it is time to judge the sins of a nation, you cannot change that, but you can love your enemies when you follow Jesus. He is the only one who can, so let Him guide you into all truth.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice