Fri.’s Devo - Empty Wells

Read Ex. 21:33-36 Today’s reading is a lot like yesterday’s only they are talking about an open pit left unmarked which is the cause of injury. I think of an open pit as being like an empty well. Empty cisterns were sometimes used as prisons back then. Joseph was thrown into one by his brothers. A cistern is suppose to be filled with water. I would think of opening a pit to be like opening a door to something evil. Left uncovered it becomes a place of harm for others and possibly a prison. If filled with clean water it can be redeemed as something useful and a source of life. Jesus can always redeem our mistakes and deliver us from evil. These laws, though technical, seem to all point to the same thing: you are responsible for your mess. Asking forgiveness doesn’t get you off the hook. You must own up to your mistake and make retribution. Even though God forgives our sins, we still reap the fruit of our deeds. These laws are great practical advise as well as spiritual. The last two verses have to do with someone who owns an ox that kills his neighbor’s ox. They are to sell the live ox and divide the money and the carcass of the dead ox. Very fair. Then, if the ox has a reputation of goring and the owner doesn’t pen him in and he kills his neighbors ox, he is to pay for the ox and his neighbor gets the dead ox. It is all about taking responsibility. Lord, help us to take responsibility for our words, our possessions, our children, and ourselves in every way. Discipline us by your merciful kindness and lead us to righteousness.