5. The Judgments of God

The judgments of God are not the same as those of men. The typical view of judgment involves measuring out an arbitrary punishment for each wrong act. Examples of this include determining a 30 year prison sentence, the death penalty, 20 lashes, etc. The judgment that God delights in is to “discern between good and bad”, to “set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” Jeremiah 9:24, 1 Kings 3:9-10, Jeremiah 21:8. His judgments are to tell you clearly that the path you think is good is actually the “ways of death”, for His “reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 14:12, 6:23. Thus the judgment of God is not assigning punishment for sin, but rather declaring the “end from the beginning”, the inevitable result of the path of wickedness, and the glorious result of the path of righteousness. Isaiah 46:10, Psalm 119:160.

Previously we established that Israel wanted to do things their own way. However “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. Thus God in His great love revealed to them His judgments, that they may know the way of life and the way of death. Before their second and third insistence on doing their own way, God gave them these judgments. Exodus 21:1. He laid out for them what He was calling them to in clear words, and this also served as a warning to them, a warning against seeking to fulfill God’s promises in their own way. As we study this section we must take God at His word and let the Bible speak plainly without adding to it. At this point we will focus on these critical statements God gave Israel. Please read Exodus chapters 21-23 carefully. You are encouraged to become very familiar with all contained in those chapters.

Let us first consider God’s instructions about murder:

“Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13.

“He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.” Exodus 21:12.

It is clearly stated by God Himself that His command is not to kill, yet at the same time He says if a man does kill another, then he “shall be surely put to death.” The majority of us come to the conclusion that God is here instructing man to kill the killer. This creates an incredible contradiction: God says not to kill unless the person is a killer, then you should kill him. Some argue there is no contradiction here. They state that “Thou shalt not kill” is referring to murder and not the punishment of death for sin. This is an even greater contradiction when we remember that God does not change, and that Jesus, Who only did the works and will of the Father, never approved of man seeking to kill the sinner. Instead Jesus rebuked those seeking to kill the sinner! Luke 9:54-55.

Again, it is very important that we take the Bible for what it says. God’s words here are that the sinner “shall be surely put to death.”

But how?

By whom?

If you read Exodus chapters 21-23 you will not find any instructions for man to kill the sinner. God does not instruct them to use stones, spears, or swords against their fellow man. God does not even tell them to be the executioner of justice against the sinner. It is not until after the three statements of Israel - “All that the Lord hath said we will do” - that God then let’s them have their own way and instructs them on stoning the sinner. Granted, there are some statements that seem to indicate this to our minds, but remember that we have all been deceived and must rely on God to give us the right understanding through His word. Jeremiah 17:9, Acts 26:18, Revelation 12:9. We will visit these seemingly difficult statements further on.

Notice that in chapters 21-23 of Exodus there is only one instance of direct instruction for man to kill and how to do it: Exodus 21:28-29. This is also the only mention of man stoning anything in this context. Pay close attention - what is it they are instructed to stone - is it a sinner? No! It is an animal, specifically an ox, such as a bull or cow. This point is very significant.

Why is the only mention of stoning against a bull or cow?

When God called Israel out of Egypt He tried to teach them His ways and free them from the ways of Egypt.

“Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel...to bring them forth of the land of Egypt...Then said I unto them...defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt...And I gave them My statutes, and shewed them My judgments...” Ezekiel 20:5-11.

The Egyptians regarded the cow sacred. If any man harmed or sacrificed a cow, the Egyptians would stone the person. Exodus 8:26, 10:24-26. Note the contrast here. The ways of Egypt involved stoning man for a religious offense, for an “abomination”. But at Mt Sinai the God of Israel never mentions stoning a man for sin! In direct opposition to the ways of Egypt He only mentions the stoning of a bull or cow. God is seeking to re-educate the people of Israel, to show them that the ways of the world are the opposite of His own ways.

God does not change. Jesus, the express image of the Father, revealed that His law is a law of love that seeks to restore. Matthew 22:37, Galatians 6:1-2. This was the law God spoke from Mt Sinai. When God said that the sinner “shall be surely put to death” He is revealing that the sinner will reap what they sow. Galatians 6:7-8. The cross of Christ is God’s ultimate defense of this truth. By taking all our sins upon Himself, Jesus revealed the true result of sin and the nature of its punishment. For every little sin and every great sin Jesus revealed that the ultimate result is separation from God - and this reaps a lonely, bitter death.

“...sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15.

Thus, when God said that the sinner “shall be surely put to death”, because of our precious Savior, we can know that this death is not by the hand of man, nor by the hand of God. This death is brought forth by sin, by separation from God.

With this in mind consider again the following verses:

“He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.” Exodus 21:12.

“And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.” Exodus 21:15.

“And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:16.

“Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 22:19.

The Bible is abundantly clear, iniquity is what takes the wicked, they are held by “the cords” of sin. Proverbs 5:22. All who ultimately cling to their sins have destroyed themselves, for they have fallen by their iniquities. Hosea 13:9, 14:1. Jesus is the only One to declare and reveal the Father entirely, for He is the “express image” of the Father. Hebrews 1:3, John 1:18, 14:6, 9. It is through Jesus that we have the clearest revelation of God’s character and of His will. All that we learn through Scriptures must be understood “as the truth is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:21. We can not come to a correct understanding of the Father unless we rely fully on the life and death of Jesus to reveal Him. Thus we must let Jesus lift the veil off all the difficult passages in the Bible.

With this emphasis in mind, consider the words of Jesus:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.

There is a direct contrast here. Jesus identifies the one who kills and destroys as the thief. Against this He reveals Himself as the Lifegiver. It is not God Who destroys, He gives life. God is not divided against Himself, He does not give life and later destroy and kill. Matthew 12:25.

In declaring to Israel at Mt Sinai that the sinner “shall surely be put to death” He is not ordering sinners to kill other sinners. He is declaring that the “soul that sins, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20. This is the judgment of God, this is Him pointing out “when you choose sin, it will lead to your destruction.” Without accepting the loving forgiveness and intervention of God, all sinners will meet the inevitable result of their actions - eternal death.

Friend, God wants to intervene in your life. He wants to save you. 1 Timothy 2:4. There is no greater love than the self-sacrificing love He has for you! John 15:13. The God of love has never changed, but is always seeking to warn us of the deadliness of sin and how it will destroy us. Genesis 2:17. Believe His judgments, that He knows right from wrong, life from death. Open your heart to Him. Let Him in and He will save you from your sins. Revelation 3:20, Jeremiah 17:14, Ezekiel 36:26-27.

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