Observation: As Moses lists various laws, he gets into various ways in which people may be killed and the associated punishments. Here is one potential scenario ... an ox gores someone to death. In this case, there is no punishment but the ox must be stoned, UNLESS the ox is known to gore people before, then the owner receives a death penalty. That seems harsh - being killed because your ox killed someone - if it weren't for the first part of the law. Since the ox is already known to be dangerous, it should have already been itself killed.
In other words, if your animal is violent, then for the sake of others you are to dispose of it. If you fail to do that, you're liable. It is simply common courtesy. It may be a hardship to you to lose the animal, but it is better for your to suffer a hardship than a neighbor to suffer a death. Placing your financial welfare above the very lives of others is the issue, and that selfish act is to be punished.
Application: Jesus himself would later boil the entire Mosaic law into two concepts ... love the Lord first, and love others as you love yourself. Life is more valuable than wealth, no matter whose.
I can't imagine how our nation, in these times, even comes close to living into this simple truth. Throughout out country, people promote their causes and openly attack others. We can't find common ground.
God's bar isn't that high. I just need to treat others equal to the way I treat myself. Their value is equal to my value. Their needs are equal to my needs. This isn't even sacrificial love, so to speak, it's just courtesy.
Prayer: Lord, may our nation find a way back to common courtesy again. And may that motion begin with your people and your church, here on earth. Amen.
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