Exodus: Reminders

Going through all these laws that God speaks about in the upcoming chapters of Exodus, I started to see it parallel more and more with the Ten Commandments, as well as become more and more applicable to today's time.

² “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, ³ and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit. - Exodus 23:2-3

As followers of Christ, we will be hated by the world (John 15:18). God's commands and laws call us to go against the words of the world. This is a true test, where do you stand, how strong your faith is, and if you will go with the crowd. I know the first two weeks of university, i could feel my faith by shaken, whether if it was to go to a party, not do work, or to try a drink. Temptations are fine, they are normal, but do not follow into them and act on it.

⁴ “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. ⁵ If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. - Exodus 23:4-5

Notice God intentionally uses the word "enemy" instead of friend, or stranger. He brings it to the opposite side of the spectrum, the furthest away from who you'd expect. We're called to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). It's hard to love those who have hurt you or who hate you, but God loves and accepts everyone and we should learn to do the same. Are we doing that? Are you loving your enemies? Why is it so difficult? What makes it so difficult? I think if we haven't learned or practice forgiving, then that is what we need to learn first before loving our enemies. Its only when we learn to forgive and move on, that is when we can be open to caring for those who may have hurt us in the past.

²⁰ “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. ²¹ Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. ²² If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.  - Exodus 23:20-22

God says in the chapter he is sending an angel to help lead the Israelites, and at the same time he's given us the Holy Spirit as a guide through all the hurdles of life. Like he says in verse 22, if we listen to what he says and do it accordingly, he will fight off those who oppose us. Is that not comforting? Follow God, i assure you he will protect you from all evil if we abide in him. Find security in Him.

We easily forget such things, let us be reminded!

verse of the day: Exodus 23:22

²² If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.