Exodus

Exodus 22: The gracious God hears the weak

Begin in prayer

Before the poor person’s cry reaches God’s ear in these laws, let us ask Him to expose our hardness. Pray that His grace in Christ will lead us to honest dealing and mercy toward people in need.

who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners.

Psalm 146:7

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to fear Your judgment against oppression. Show us the grace of Jesus and make us attentive to a neighbor’s need. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God requires thieves and people whose animals or fires cause damage to make restitution. He gives rules for goods entrusted to others and for animals borrowed or hired. He requires responsibility after a man entices an unpledged virgin and gives severe judgments against forbidden practices and rival worship. Foreigners, widows and fatherless children must not be oppressed, because God hears their cries and will judge their oppressors. Loans to the poor must not carry interest, and a pledged garment must be returned before sunset. God also commands honor, prompt offerings and a holy people who refuse meat torn by animals.

As you read Exodus 22, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The gracious God hears the weak and commands justice and holiness among His people.

God’s laws bring honesty into the fields, homes and lending of His redeemed nation. Restitution means making good the loss, so a thief or a careless neighbor must repay what he took or damaged. A man who entices an unpledged virgin must pay the marriage price, even if her father refuses to give her to him. Sorcery, intercourse with an animal and sacrifice to another god bring death, because Israel belongs to the LORD alone. Then God speaks as the defender of foreigners, widows and fatherless children, and He threatens their oppressors with the sword. Israel must not oppress a foreigner, because they were foreigners in Egypt. A poor man’s cloak must come back before sunset, because it is his only covering, and God says, “I am gracious.” His mercy toward the weak shows the heart of God, who sent Jesus to save sinners who come to Him with nothing.

How does Exodus 22 show us that the gracious God hears the weak and commands justice and holiness among His people?

God requires honesty about what belongs to others.

A thief must repay, and damage from grazing animals or fire must be made good. A thief who has nothing must be sold for his theft. Killing a thief breaking in at night brings no bloodguilt, but killing him after sunrise brings bloodguilt. Disputed goods and borrowed animals remain under God’s judgment, even when no witness sees.

God’s holiness governs worship and relationships.

A man who entices a virgin not pledged to be married and has intercourse with her must pay the marriage price. Her father may refuse the marriage, and the payment is still required. Sorcery, intercourse with an animal and sacrifice to another god carry death in Israel’s national law. The penalties show the gravity of sins for which Christ’s people need His saving sacrifice.

God hears those whom stronger people oppress.

Israel must remember its own life as foreigners in Egypt. God threatens to kill oppressors with the sword, leaving their own families bereaved. His wrath against cruelty is real, and His compassion toward the weak is real.

God commands practical mercy and a life set apart.

The poor borrower must not be charged interest, and his covering must be returned before sunset. God hears because He is gracious. Israel must honor God and rulers, give first offerings and avoid meat torn by animals. Christ’s mercy teaches His people to care for a neighbor’s actual need.

Memorise

“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.

Exodus 22:22

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, whose need have I ignored while keeping God’s mercy at a distance?

God asks about the poor man’s garment, “What would he sleep in?” Then He promises to hear the man’s cry, “for I am gracious.” The Lord sees the cold night that a lender’s greed would create.

Our hard hearts deserve the anger of this gracious and righteous God. Jesus took the death His people deserved, carrying their guilt at the cross. He rose again, and His finished sacrifice is enough to answer for their sins. The Savior’s mercy reaches people who have nothing with which to repay Him.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. The guilty who rely on Him receive forgiveness. His grace gives no shelter to a refusal to repent. Come for mercy, then learn from Him to hear the weak and to give practical help with an open hand.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God hears people who are oppressed and judges cruelty, and that Jesus died and rose to save sinners. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. These national penalties do not authorize families or churches to impose them.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for hearing the poor and commanding honest, holy mercy, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

“Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

Luke 6:36

Gracious God, thank You that You hear the weak and see hidden wrongs. Forgive our greed and indifference. Please lead us to repent and trust Jesus. Teach us honest care for other people’s things, compassion for the poor and respect for the holiness of Your name. Amen.