Mon.’s Devo - Laws of Warfare and Hospitality

Read Ex. 22:1-21 I am going to scan this chapter and pick out the things that catch my eye. These laws have to do with practical spiritual warfare. If the devil steals leaders from us through deceit or death then we can demand 5 leaders for the one he stole. We can demand 4 people for one. Let me give you an example of this. Stephen was a zealous Christian. He was reeking havoc in the devil’s kingdom, so he was stoned. The devil stole an ox. Paul was at the stoning of Stephen and watched Stephen die praising God. Paul was being used by Satan to kill many Christians. Satan took Stephen; God took Paul. Paul in turn, lead more Christians to the Lord than he killed during his killing days. Many “oxen” were raised up under Paul’s ministry like Timothy, Silvanus, Onesimus, Mark, and Barnabus. If the devil steals anything from you, you have the right to demand it back and more. The thing is: you have to identify him as being the thief. Many times we don’t understand that it is the devil who is stealing from us so we don’t demand he return it with interest. If you aren’t sure if its the devil or not then do what verse 9 says: bring it before the judges. In other words, bring it before God and ask him to show you. Verse 21 says that we are not to mistreat a stranger, nor oppress him because you were once strangers in Egypt. I think this has to do with non-Christians of any ethnicity. Once, we were not in Christ so we need to have patience and mercy for those who don’t know the truth yet. We need to treat them as we would want to be treated so that God’s kindness can bring them to repentance. Lord, help us to recognize our enemy and plunder his spoil. Restore back to us everything he has stolen from us with interest. You are our deliverer and strong tower!