Live well with one another

Exodus 22

God’s idea for man living in the community of faith is revolutionary. It goes against every grain of how man would have wanted to live. In order for man to live well with another man, God gave them laws on how to treat other people’s properties and live with man or animals. Spirituality affects every area of our lives. 

How do we treat other people’s properties and also live morally before God? Two main things are clear in this chapter:

#1. How to treat other people’s properties. (Exodus 22:1-15)

The first thing we notice here is about how we treat other people’s properties. God gave several instances of how they ought to treat properties and if it goes bad, what the implications were. God has instances of punishment for stealing of properties, letting animals destroy properties, fire destruction of properties, stealing of money, trespassing properties, or when borrowed items get lost. These are all to preserve the private properties of people of the community. God’s laws help us to live at peace with one another. It preserves what they had toiled for. The system ensures properties are safe. This will help nations and people maintain civility.

#2. How to be morally and ceremonially right before God. (Exodus 22:16-31)

Morality is all about how to live right with other people before God whereas observances are supposed to be kept by the community. These laws border on a man who sleeps with a virgin who is betrothed, how to deal with sorceress, sleeping with animals, sacrifice to gods, not oppressing strangers, not mistreating widows and the fatherless, interest on lending money to the poor, not reviling God, giving to God, being holy and not eating abominable meat. People must live with one another in love to foster brotherliness. What you will not wish to be done to you must not be done to other people. The heart of the law is to love one another.

God gives His laws to establish order and proper lifestyle before Him.

Take Action: What does God say about property acquisition and moral lifestyle?