Thurs.’s Devo - The Ox

Read Ex. 21:28-32 The laws for an ox are this: if an ox gores a person, then he will be stoned and the owner is not at fault unless the owner has been told that his ox is known for using his horn to hurt another person. If the ox has a history of being violent and the ox kills a person then the owner and the ox are put to death. If the injured party’s family allows him to buy back his life then he can. The same judgment is required if it is done to a child. I found an interesting verse in Is. 66:3 “He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man.” So Isaiah is comparing an ox at the same level as a man.” Horns have to do with power as in authority. When Nebucadnezer had his dream about the horns they stood for kings of kingdoms. I think this has to do with leaders once again. This time it has to do with piercing them to death. If the word of God has the power to pierce to the marrow, our words have the ability to gore. Notice that the ox is responsible himself if it is the first time, but after that it is the owner’s responsibility also. If you have someone in authority under you and he hurts another person by wielding his power or by his words, then he is responsible for the mess he made; but if you are his overseer, and you know he has done this in the past it is your job to make sure it doesn’t happen again. If it does then you are just as responsible as him. 1 Peter 5:1 says it like this: 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Lord, whether we are in authority or under authority, help us to humble ourselves and do all for your glory.