June 26, 2025
DAILY BIBLE READING
Exodus 21 – Justice, Responsibility, and Compassion in God’s Law
What the Old Testament law teaches about God’s values and our dealings with others
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Bible Text – Exodus 21 (KJV)
1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.
5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
27 And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
35 And if one man’s ox hurt another’s, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
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Introduction
The laws of the Old Testament—especially those found in the Book of Exodus—can often seem foreign, strict, or even harsh to us today. But behind these regulations lies a profound message: God is a God of justice, protection, and order.
Exodus 21 addresses real-life situations in ancient Israel: servitude, physical injury, manslaughter, animal responsibility, and property damage. These laws may differ from our modern legal systems, but they reveal God’s deep concern for fairness, the protection of the vulnerable, and personal accountability.
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Commentary
1. Verses 1–11: Laws on Servants
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God sets clear time limits for servitude (v. 2).
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Rights of spouses and families are acknowledged.
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Even female servants have protections under the law.
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Dignity, safety, and compassion are preserved—even in cases of dependence.
2. Verses 12–27: Violence, Manslaughter, and Compensation
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Clear difference between premeditated murder and accidental death (vv. 12–14).
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Capital punishment is commanded for severe offenses such as murder, abuse of parents, and kidnapping.
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Physical injuries require fair compensation (e.g., for missed work and medical costs).
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“Eye for an eye” is about proportional justice, not vengeance.
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Servants with permanent injuries are to be freed (vv. 26–27).
3. Verses 28–36: Animal Responsibility
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Animals can be dangerous; their owners are responsible for preventing harm.
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Property ownership comes with duties—damages must be repaid.
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Again, the focus is protection of life, justice, and restitution.
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Summary
Exodus 21 shows that God is a God of order and righteousness. His commandments reach deeply into everyday life—not to control, but to protect: the weak, the injured, and the marginalized.
Each law expresses a principle of accountability and respect. Even if some of these laws were specific to that time, they reveal an eternal foundation: justice, mercy, and care.
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Message for Us Today
Although we no longer live under the Mosaic Law, the ethical core remains valid:
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How do we treat others—especially those in vulnerable positions?
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Are we willing to take responsibility when we cause harm?
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Do we live justly, selflessly, and compassionately each day?
These texts remind us: God cares not only about worship, but about our character, our actions, and our relationships—with others and with Him—every single day.
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Thought Impulse
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Where am I tempted to avoid responsibility or hide mistakes?
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How do I respond to injustice—in my family, church, or society?
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What does “justice” mean in my daily life—and how can I live it actively?
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June 22 – 28, 2025
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 13
The Test of Faith
Read online here
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Introduction
Abraham – the father of faith. And yet, his faith wasn’t a static possession, but a journey shaped by challenges, doubts, and divine tests. In Chapter 13 of Patriarchs and Prophets, it becomes clear: true faith proves itself not in the easy times, but in the difficult ones.
God tested Abraham with a command that is almost impossible to comprehend: “Sacrifice your son, your only son, whom you love.” This story is not just an ancient tale about a man long ago – it is a mirror reflecting our own journey of faith.
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Commentary
1. The Beginning of Doubt (Hagar and Ishmael)
- Abraham accepts God’s promise – but does not wait patiently.
- Sarah’s suggestion to take Hagar as a wife is a human solution to a divine promise.
- Consequences: unrest, jealousy, brokenness in the family, mockery, and rejection.
Lesson: When we replace God’s timing with our own methods, we create conflict, not solutions.
2. God’s Promise Stands (Isaac is born)
- Despite human mistakes, God renews His promise.
- Isaac – the child of the miracle – becomes the center of the covenant.
- Ishmael and Hagar are sent away – with divine comfort, but not without pain.
Lesson: God’s plans prevail, even when we take detours. His faithfulness remains constant.
3. The Great Test – The Sacrifice of Isaac
- Abraham receives the hardest command: Sacrifice your son.
- Inner struggle, silence, prayer – no excuses, only obedience.
- Isaac shows willing obedience – he is not forced, but trusts.
- At the last moment, God intervenes: a ram is sacrificed in Isaac’s place.
Lesson:
- Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
- God tests to strengthen – not to destroy.
- Obedience is rewarded – even when we don’t understand everything.
4. God’s Covenant and Prophetic Meaning
- God confirms His covenant with Abraham through an oath.
- The ram as a substitute offering prophetically points to Christ.
- Even angels gain deeper understanding of the plan of redemption through this scene (see 1 Peter 1:10–12).
Lesson: This story is a prophetic shadow of Golgotha.
God gave what Abraham did not have to give – His only Son.
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Summary
Chapter 13 shows: Faith doesn’t mean never doubting – it means trusting despite the doubts.
Abraham’s life is a journey from impatience to surrender, from human solutions to divine obedience.
The greatest evidence of his faith was not words, but action. And in that obedience, God’s grace is revealed: He saves – through a sacrifice He Himself provides.
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Message for Us Today
God doesn’t test to destroy, but to strengthen.
True faith is shown in action, not in talk.
Obedience to God may cost sacrifice – but it is never in vain.
God’s timing is better than our own impatience.
Our trust in God often becomes most visible when we understand the least.
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Reflection Question
What would you do if God asked something “incomprehensible” of you?
Are there “Ishmaels” in your life – human solutions trying to replace God’s promises?
How is your obedience shown today – even when no one sees it?
Do you know the God who provides “a ram” for you – the solution, when you are ready to trust?
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/26-06-2025-exodus-chapter-21-believe-his-prophets/
