Our text this week, Exodus 22:1-8, after declaring how animals killing should be dealt with, God continues the discussion moving from laws related to murder to laws related to theft. In changing from laws related to the sixth commandment, we also see a shift from equal punishment, an eye for an eye, to a multiplier, four sheep for a sheep, so we see the equitable punishment for laws related to murder to be very different than the equitable punishment for other laws. In this passage, God gives cases related to theft. In giving these cases, some of them are not cases that would happen while they are wandering in the wilderness. When they abide in one place and have to provide for themselves rather than receiving manna, they will be typical problems. While they are in camp together, there will be theft so God is speaking to them about how to deal with it. Rather than giving them cases related to their current situation, they are given situations that will only be applicable later, such as letting your ox go into another's field, but they are to apply these cases. God is explaining the law for both then and for later. The application of the law about theft requires significant wisdom in judgment. Why does an ox require five fold restitution, but a sheep requires four fold? Why if it is killed or sold, it is restored with a factor of four or five, but if it is found in their hand, it is restored double. In other places in the Scriptures, it also says seven times and adding a fifth. The law is absolute for the specific cases, but we are to be wise to apply it's principles for the many other cases that exist. |
