Exodus 21:12-36  In this section, Moses records God's verdicts/ordinances in situations of life and death.    I know that some think that the Old Testament laws are no longer needed - we have the law of grace.  But,  Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law, not to void it.   Yesterday's look into how slaves/servants were to be treated is still relevant today, isn't it?  To treat needy people with fairness and generosity.  To help and not harm those in desperate situations.   These ordinances that we approach today reveal God's justice and righteousness - His outlook on sin.  We need to take this seriously, as children of the Mighty King and Judge of all the earth.

The death penalty was commanded for the following situations:
Striking a man so that he dies.
Stalking someone so as to kill him.
Striking a parent.
Kidnapping a man.
Cursing a parent.

Think about Moses, standing there before God, receiving these instructions... what would he be thinking?  Moses struck an Egyptian man and hid his body.   He deserved death!   But then, don't we all? "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23... and "..all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." ( Romans 3:23).  We are all accountable before God, including Moses.   Maybe we haven't killed someone with our hands, but we have hated them in our hearts, or were angry at them... and Jesus tells us that we are just as guilty as the one who followed through.
No wonder Moses was such a humble man.  He stood on a mountain top with God and lived....  A sinner saved by grace... and he knew it with every ounce of his being.
We need to know that too...  Really KNOW it!

Instructions for punishment for specific transgressions are given here -
Men who quarrel and one gets hurt.
A person who hits his slave.
A struggle that ends up hurting a woman and causing a miscarriage.
Injuries from people.
Injuries caused by animals.
Injuries caused by carelessness.

In every case restitution is needed.  In some cases ransom is needed and redemption is demanded.

In this chapter we find the well known quote, " eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." ( verses 24-25)  These are the penalties for deliberate injury - and this also includes, "life for life".  Imagine this kind of justice done right!
People would be a lot less likely to hurt someone else, don't you think?  Instead of long rap sheets and going in and out of jail... maybe, just maybe that vicious cycle could be broken?

God also makes a provision for accidents or other situations where a death occurs.  Verse 13, " But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee."  This will be given later when the rules for the cities of refuge are given.

Father in heaven,  You gave the Law so that we could know what Your righteousness is.. and that we would know how far short of that righteousness we really are.  We are each accountable to You.  We know that we are sinners who deserve death.  Oh, how we thank You for Jesus Christ who has redeemed us from all sin.  And through Whom we are justified by His Grace when we place our faith in Him.   Oh how we thank You gave Your Son, Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for us.  That through the Lord, Jesus Christ we have peace with You.   You do not demand and eye for an eye from us, for  Jesus paid our penalty.  He was " pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." ( Isaiah 53:5-6)  Help us to walk in this way, even as our Lord taught that we should turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, love our enemy, forgive those who sin against us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might be "strengthened with all power according to (Your) glorious might for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience..." Col.1:11.  We ask this in His Name, which is above all names. Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.