Laws of Confession and Restitution

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Discipleship

Calling to Salvation

Exodus 22:1-4 The Message

22 1-3 “If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt. But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt.
3-4 “A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving. If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double.

Numbers 5:5-10 The Message

5-10 God spoke to Moses: “Tell the People of Israel, When a man or woman commits any sin, the person has broken trust with God, is guilty, and must confess the sin. Full compensation plus twenty percent must be made to whoever was wronged. If the wronged person has no close relative who can receive the compensation, the compensation belongs to God and must be given to the priest, along with the ram by which atonement is made. All the sacred offerings that the People of Israel bring to a priest belong to the priest. Each person’s sacred offerings are his own, but what one gives to the priest stays with the priest.”

For Reflection

Thou shalt not kill another human being nor shall you steal. The admonition is clear. But, is it as clear in practice as it is in rolling off the tongue?

Following the letter of the Mosaic law was difficult in practice. To be sure killing and stealing are clearly wrong but does the circumstance change how the punishment is dealt or the law is interpreted?  In these passages, judgment is made on both the punishment and justification of violating the law.

No human can predict the full consequences of rules. There always seems to be a situation in which one finds extenuating circumstances that create a need to change, codify the intent, and parse the laws to determine and administer appropriate punishments The law, then and now, always requires interpretation. Ultimately, obeying the law seems to end in an "if this then" dilemma.

Committing a violation to other people is also a transgression against God. Without repentance, restitution to the harmed individual is insufficient.

Pray

Pray about the conflicting rules that guide your life.  Pray, and listen to the Holy Spirit comfort you and show you God's mercy as you decide between two undesirable choices. Pray and know that God will always love you and treat you with compassionate restoration.

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