An Unsettling Land

Exodus 23 and 24

It is generally recognized that there are three sections of laws in these two chapters.

The first seventeen verses of chapter 22 have a lot of “if this, then this” type rules, and these generally have to do with the basic functioning of society. They focus on matters of restitution: what will make things right when someone is wronged.

The next section goes from 22:18 to 23:19. It still uses the “if” pattern sometimes, but these laws are less situational. They are more general commands, having to do with how one lives out one’s trust in God. It starts with the severest penalties for sorcery, bestiality, and idolatry. Why these? I suppose because they are considered particularly destructive to a society based on trust in one God, and as God’s image on earth.

There is more than just “no” and “don’t” to all the things here. The intent is freedom within God’s design. The people will be free to live a life of love to God and for neighbour. Israel is not to forget the experience of slavery and pilgrimage, and to be kind to the “alien” or foreigner in their presence.

The last section promises an angel to go ahead of the people, and over a period of time, they will take possession of a land defined bounded by Egypt, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Euphrates River, a promise held fervently, and fought over, to this day.

I recommend this article from BBC on "Borders and Settlements".

Prayer:
God, to be honest, as we look back in time and read what you set out for your people, we find some of it obscure to our understanding. But then we see that you were directing a whole people to a new land, with your intent of shining through them to the world. But as with all of us, what you intend and what we do for our part don’t always work out, because of our failure. Now, in that land you set out for a people, there is conflict to which we see no end in the world as we know it. The spirit of hospitality toward those who are different seems lost, and even those who would seem to be alike are at odds. What is to be made of us people? Would you intervene to bring a new order to things? In Christ, Amen.