Exodus 22 ~ if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Exodus 22

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.

6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.

7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.

14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.

Laws About Social Justice

16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.

18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.

21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Psalm 140

6 I say to the Lord, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
7 O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.

You have to love the ones who want to whine about the Old Testament...

• It's all rules!!!

• God doesn't provide for the truly needy.

• They are just slaves - How Can HE Expect Them not to Be Afraid.

• Don't Complain - HE won't provide for you.

• Slaves - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

(Some people whine more creatively!!!)

Slaves. Slaves in the desert. As many camels as you can steal. If you take a camel - leave a clue. If you see two chickens, take one - leave an egg. That Egyptian gold - IS Gonna Run Out..

Instead of coping - The LORD gives Expectations.

God did not just lift them on gentle clouds from over the Red Sea and say let's meet the neighbors with Meet and Greet. 

And HE did not say - they are slaves - they cannot be expected to adapt. He did not hand them land and say go farm - HE said learn the way and go forward.

THIS IS A VERY TODAY MESSAGE.

Oh - Rodney Dangerfield - Respect. Elbows out. 
Joshua began to take over the Exodus, because it fell over.
God said wanted balance and said - not to the right, not to the left. 

Christians love to say "I'm Third." That has been a mantra for some people. If you truly look at the Word of GOD, He says love others as yourself. That is a balanced second place.


Now we could whine about GOD not providing the man with anything but a coat -

27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Even in the desert, push to shove, He expects His People to be Just, regardless of the circumstance.

I talk to all manner of people. People who run Exxon. The elderly. The poor. HE expects all of them to live by His Plan. We all have a choice in Life - work with HIM - work for HIM by avoiding His path. We all expect a different level of "life provides". Focus on Him first and see what He will bring. 

He says to challenge Him - He just never said plop down in front of the TV at night. If you are awake - you could be learning something, making something, phone calling encouragement. Sunday is for rest - not thou shalt veg in front of TV every day.

When we expect GOD to show up in our lives - lives change. Paul wrote of "seeing how it will go with me." The adventure of opening our hands in the morning and saying - Lord, what would you have me do today? 

And when we have asked - the sweet rest of -  HE promises - HE is not going to leave.

Father God, help us expect the best of ourselves. You expected mere nomadic slaves, freed in miraculous circumstances, to pick up their pallet and walk. Help us to avoid the comfy chair of complaining. Help us to give our best, encourage each other in Truth, and allow room for You. 

Help us Lord to help one another - in expectation - we will work together for Your good. Open our hands to You Lord GOD - saying I want to pick up my pallet -

Father God, You have said Words are important. Help our speech be gracious. Help us be straight forward in our conversations. Not misleading hearts as being overly harsh or overly whiney. 

Let us be discerning as we offer words to You and others.

Father GOD, we welcome You again. Dwell in our families, our children, our homes, ours places of work. 

We welcome you in our extended families. In our thoughts and prayers. Let us be a good place to dwell. 

We pray for restoration of the young in our Churches. In Church, let the Youth be so encouraged, that they will never want to stay away. 

We Pray Expectantly for Revival of our Federal Government, our States' governments, our Local Governments and for the Police protecting and serving. 
Especially Lord for those who have shown mercy.
Lord blessed are the Peacemakers.
Building families and fathers to their sons.

We pray for good health and restoration of health as we have all suffered with flu, fever, stomach flu, strep throat and sinus infection (as I have this year, one after another). And the return this week of sinus headache, we pray for healing.

Thank you, GOD, for HEB and the physicians assistant providing antibiotics and medications for sinus crud.

In the name of Jesus we pray.
AMEN and Thank You Father God.  

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