– Out of these 3 chapters of today, these are general laws for the public. And I could only list 49 laws for todays’ reading. Tomorrows’ chapters will be about the Tabernacle, and some laws perhaps for the Levites. When we get to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, most of these laws will be just repeated – and some be expanded on. Here is what I see what was happening. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and people learned the egyptian ways. The moment they came out of Egypt – Moses had his hands full. In Exodus 18:13-23 we read how Moses’ father-in-law (no pun intended!), saw how poor Moses had to play judge all day long. These people needed some rules! Or at least, reminders of who they should be. Here is what Jethro said “Stand before Elohim for the people, and you shall bring the matters to Elohim. And you shall teach them concerning the laws and show them the way in which they should walk and the work which they do. But you yourself, seek out from all the people able men, who fear Elohim, men of truth, hating unfair gain. And place these over them ..and they shall rightly rule the people at all times. And it shall be that they bring every great matter to you, but they themselves rightly rule every small matter.” I think that is what Moses did, he took the big matters to YHVH and YHVH answered Moses with these laws in these chapters. These chapters were the answer to the problems the people were facing. And already so soon out of Egypt, the problems include people fighting physically, stealing, murder, animals with bad behavior, slavery, false witnessing and favoritism, sorcery, treatment of leaders, widows and orphans, sexual immorality, etc. And guess what! We haven’t even got to the chapter yet where YHVH gives Moses the tablets, and the Israelites’ making of the golden calf!

– The laws are mostly as a consequence of what people did. For example Joseph was sold into slavery – now there is a law that forbids kidnapping, and selling people into slavery. Perhaps people thought well, Josephs’ brothers did it, so can they… We will also see later that it is forbidden to marry your wifes’ sister (which we saw with Jacob, Lea and Rachel).

GRACE
YHVHs’ Goodness and Grace is not a new thing with the “new” testament… no, He is Always the Same. He is the Father from the beginning, teaching His children how to be good. He clothed Adam and Eve like a heartfelt Father. When Cain killed his brother, and Cain was afraid to leave – YHVH protected Him even in spite of what he did. We can actually see how every person so far made mistakes.. but YHVH have a lot of Patience and Grace!

When I read through these laws, I find them really beautiful. Slaves are to be treated well, rewarded and freed. Even if you can’t get along with your parents, don’t strike them and don’t curse them. If you injure someone, make sure that he is ok afterwards. Be very cautious around pregnant woman. If your enemy has a problem, help him. Treat strangers well. Always tell the truth, even if you stand alone. Take care of the widows and orphans. Take a break every 7 years – yep.. just take the whole year off. You, your land, your workers and even your animals – everyone gets a break. And YHVH promises He will take care of you. Your land and whatever grows is then free to take for food for strangers, poor people and animals. Where can we get these rules today please? I can’t find one rule in here today that is hard or difficult. Does this remind you of anyone…? Yeshua, in Matthew 11:30 “For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.” He didn’t say we will NOT have a yoke, or He will take the yoke away – HIS yoke, YHVHs’ yoke is gentle and easy.

SLAVERY / JUDGE
– The Israelites became slaves in Egypt. We read in Genesis when they moved to Egypt with the famine, that Pharaoh made everyone pay 20% annual “tax” and took their lands as payment for food. Later the new Pharaoh saw their numbers and made them work harder.

– Today the word “slave” is like a curse word. We all have heard how really bad slaves have been treated in the past, and that was not even so long ago. It is in 1865 America passed the 13th amendment for slavery to be banished. But, did you know that it is not completely banished? So even though we won’t use the word slave today, enslavement still exists. The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution says, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Considering what we know how bad slaves were treated, YHVHs’ laws really are there to free all slaves and their families. Also they have to be provided for, and not mistreated in any way. YHVH reminds His people… “Remember, you were slaves also”

– As we can see, in any group or community – there will always be laws to follow. If YHVH is your King and God/Elohim – then He has certain rules. But when you are placed under another’s’ rule – you are to obey their rules. Except… if it goes against some real moral issues! Ultimately you have to obey YHVHs’ laws. For example, the midwifes under Pharaoh didn’t obey his commands to kill the babies. Daniel and his friends didn’t bow down and worship the statue, and continued to pray even though they were forbidden to pray to YHVH. But the rest of time, “give to caesar what belongs to caesar”.

– In 1 Samuel 8, we read about the Israelites also wanting a king, like their neighbors. This probably looked really cool to them, and they wanted to be part of the crowd, and also have a king. Up until that point YHVH was their King. See some of the things that Samuel warns them what will now happen, since they choose a human king. These are the rights of rulers/kings : “This is the ruling of the sovereign who does reign over you: He shall take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots” (people/servants), “And the best of your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-trees he is going to take and give them to his servants” (lands), “a tenth of your grain and your vintage he is going to take and give it to his officers and servants” (taxes). “And you shall cry out in that day because of your sovereign whom you have chosen for yourselves, but YHVH is not going to answer you in that day. However, the people refused to listen to the voice of Shemuel, and said, “No, but let a sovereign be over us.” In todays chapter of Exodus 24:7-8 the people made a covenant with YHVH “We will do and obey all that the LORD has commanded.” and “Mosheh took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “See, the blood of the covenant which YHVH has made with you concerning all these Words.” But when they chose another king/leader – they piled up a whole lot of new laws for themselves. And YHVH said if they cry because of these laws of men, He will not listen to them.

– See how seriously YHVH takes slavery. In Jeremiah 34:8-22 the people promised to free their slaves as they were suppose too. But then they changed their minds, took the slaves back, and that just enraged YHVH. So much, that is the exact reason why the 1st Temple was destroyed and the Israelites themselves were taken into bondage/slavery to Babylon!

– Here is some history lesson in where we find ourselves today. After the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70AD in Jerusalem, and the fall of Rome shortly after that – there was a long quiet period, called the Dark Ages. But during that time, Rome came back and instituted the Roman Catholic system, which were to rule with the leaders of their time. Around the year 1500, there were more and more famine, high taxes and poverty, unfair privileges, etc. This sparked a new era : people who wanted to be free. But not just free and have rights, but also free from religion and the laws of God. This began the separation of church and state, freedom of rights and ultimately the French Revolution, and then the American Revolution (1700-1800’s). During this period things like freemasonry was born. The liberals slogan was “rights of man became law – as the man will”. While the French Revolution’s initial goals weren’t explicitly anti-religious, the radical phase, particularly during the Reign of Terror, saw attempts to “de-Christianize” France. This era was called the “Age of Enlightenment”. Remember the name Lucifer means “light bearer”. People saw themselves (even today) as being enlightened – a deep state of understanding or awareness of themselves and their rights. In 1875 the French built the statue of “Liberty” and gave it as a gift to the US. When you carefully look at the statue, you will see it has broken chains around its’ feet, an enlightened crown, carrying its’ own light and its’ own book of rules. People see it as freedom, liberty. Anything just so they don’t fall under the Law.

– There is a great verse, and ironically this call is made before the people are allowed into the Promised Land. Joshua 24:15 “choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve YHVH“. And also consider the words of Yeshua in Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’” Some translations don’t want you to see the word “lawlessness” so they used “evil people”. And off course no one thinks of himself as evil right? But that is the wrong word translated! The original greek word that is written is “anomia” which means “transgress the Torah Law”. They used the word “evil” which in greek is rather “poneros”, and that word is not written there. And what does YHVH say about changing His Words? Deuteronomy 4:2 “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it, so as to guard the commands of YHVH your Elohim which I am commanding you.”

– In the 10 commandments, the first commandment is not to have other Elohim but YHVH. Elohim doesn’t just mean gods or masters, but also actually means Judges. No one is allowed to judge you except YHVH. That is the covenant He made with His people, He will be their judge. IF they obey, THEN He will protect them. YHVH and Yeshua teaches us, that we are not to judge each other either. Only He can judge us. Read Psalm 82 about YHVH being the Judge.