Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: Identity
- Identity: Our true identity comes from the Father. Only when our identity comes from God can we be obedient in ways that satisfy our person to our core.
In Exodus 21 we have an interesting set of laws. In this chapter we can see laws governing
slaves, marriages of slaves, children of slaves, and retribution from
damage. This chapter seems to lack grace
completely and be all about the Law.
However, I think there is some grace to be found. If our identity comes from God, there should
be grace and love in all things – even things that are dominated by the
Law. In this chapter we see that slaves
are to be freed after seven years of service.
If a slave is married, then when the slave is freed the slave’s wife and
children are freed with the slave. There
is grace here, because it prevents the master over the slave from dominating
the slave and taking more than what should be asked of the slave. God wants us to reflect His characteristics
of love and grace rather than the human harshness in our own hearts.
We also see grace in the laws of retribution. If a man is injured, he can only ask for what
his injury cost him. If a person’s
property, in this case an ox, causes injury then the property is dealt with
while the man goes unpunished – unless the man is negligent and knew about the
potential for injury. If a pregnant
woman is injured and goes into childbirth and the baby is born injury free,
then only a small fine is applied. Again
we see that retribution must fit the crime.
These are ultimately laws of grace, not laws of severity.
These are laws that reflect the character of God. These are laws that come from a people whose
identity resides in God. These are laws
that are born out of relationship and allowing communities to continue to
function in the midst of a broken world.
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