Review Of Exodus 23

— by Victor Fawole

I welcome everyone to Exodus 23 – a chapter that reveals the signs of a person who lives by godly principles – a life that is both just and righteous. We read that the truthfulness of God is to be reflected in truthfulness displayed to fellow men. The compassion and justice of God is to be reflected in how we treat our fellow humans.

Let us review:

SAY NO TO SLANDER

Exo. 23:1 “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Slander is an evil thing to do. Queen Jezebel did this to Naboth (1Kgs. 21:10-13). When we spread false reports about a person, we damage the person and the community. False allegations, baseless rumours, and unproven speculations will do great harm to innocent people. Stephen was killed for this reason (Acts 6:8-14). The best thing is do not start a false report, do not give a false report and do not spread a false report. The next best thing is to put a stop to a false report. When we do nothing or remain neutral, we are allowing false reports to circulate.

Permit me to recommend this sermon by Pastor Dammy: Proverbs About The Tongue

This command extends to the temptation to go with the opinion of the majority to pervert justice. It is easy for our fallen human nature to do that. It is a sin to go with the evil flow. Majority opinion does not justify doing evil. That everyone is doing (saying) it does not mean it is the right thing to do (say).

SAY NO TO PARTIALITY

Exo. 23:3,6-7 You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute… “You shall not pervert the judgement of your poor in his dispute. Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous…

Few months ago, I heard a comment from a social media content creator: “In Nigeria, you are either rich or wrong!” He made the comment in relation to an injustice shown to a poor man, hinting that the rich party had bribed his way to pervert justice. That is the kind of situation that God forbids. While it is common to show favouritism to the rich at the expense of the poor, this particular command forbids us from showing favouritism and giving undue advantage to the poor as a form of pity. Neither show favouritism to anyone, nor deny anyone justice based on their socio-economic status. All of Israel is God’s, and all are to be treated equally. Our love for God is to be manifested in our personal commitment to justice, fairness, and truth in our relationships with our neighbours.

God also commanded them not to oppress the strangers among them. The Israelites themselves had a firsthand experience of mistreatment and oppression; hence, they should treat strangers better.

SAY NO TO NONCHALANCE

Exo. 23:4-5 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.

The Israelites were commanded to refuse the temptation to take advantage of, or gloat at, the misfortune of another person – whether it’s a person they agree with or not. This act of compassion is important, regardless of whether the man was an “enemy”. This sounds counter-flesh. Do not contribute to the misfortune of another. This principle is repeated by Solomon (Prov. 25:21–22), Jesus (Matt. 5:43-45), and Paul (Rom. 12:20-21). However, since no penalty is mentioned here, it is hardly enforced.

Dear Gogolights, if while we were God’s enemies, Jesus died for us, then let us show kindness to people who antagonise us. However, this kindness does not translate to becoming friends with them. No. If you’ve seen clear indications that a person is all out to destroy you, do not keep them in your life like you’d keep a friend. No wise person befriends an adversary. Love them, yes. Be kind to them, yes. But don’t give them undue access to your life and plans.

SAY NO TO BRIBERY

Exo. 23:8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.

A bribe is any gift (monetary, material, or otherwise) given for the purpose of influencing a person (or people) to think in a way they normally would not normally, ultimately influencing their decision and action. Receiving bribes was so grievous that it attracted a curse from God (Deut. 27:25). The problem with such a gift is two-fold:

• 1. It blinds the receiver to something that they would otherwise clearly be able to see. It clouds their clear thinking.
• 2. Because of the blinding, a bribe becomes a tool that perverts or distorts justice.

In most cases of bribery, an innocent person gets killed. Let us check out these ten instances of bribery in the Bible:

• 1. The elders that Queen Jezebel contacted (to recruit false accusers against Naboth) most likely received non-monetary bribes (1Kgs. 21:4-16)
• 2. Those who testified against Stephen were most likely bribed – the bible says they were “secretly induced” (Acts 6:8-14)
• 3. Delilah was bribed with 1100 pieces of silver to entrap Samson (Judg. 16:5,18)
• 4. Judas was bribed with 30 pieces of silver by the priests to betray Jesus (Matt. 26:15)
• 5. Samuel’s sons received bribes (1Sam. 8:3)
• 6. Soldiers were bribed with “a large sum of money” to deny the resurrection of Jesus and claim that His disciples stole His body (Matt. 28:11-14)
• 7. The judges of Israel took bribes to pervert justice (Mic. 3:11, Mic. 7:3)
• 8. The leaders and people of Jerusalem loved bribes and its “rewards” (Isa. 1:23).
• 9. Haman bribed King Ahasuerus in an attempt to destroy the Jews (Esth. 3:9).
  10. 10. Felix left Paul in prison because he hoped to receive a bribe from Paul (Acts 24:26).

CONCERNING SABBATH

Exo. 23:10-11 “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.

As every 7th day was a Sabbath, so every 7th year was a Sabbatical Year (also the Year of Jubilee). The Sabbatical Year is indeed a day of rest, even for their farmlands. Remember that the slaves are freed in the Sabbatical Year. Not just that, debts were to be forgiven (Deut. 31:10). Whatever grew spontaneously on the lands belonged to everyone, not only the landowner. The poor, the slaves, the labourers, the strangers, the animals – everyone has equal rights to it! This creates a sense of dependence on God and love for others.

Out of the 10 Commandments, the law of the Sabbath is repeated more often than others. It is a serious and weighty issue. They were to cease from labour, their animals get physical rest, and the labourers get refreshed.

CONCERNING THREE ANNUAL FEASTS

Exo. 23:14 “Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year…

God mentioned three feasts that form the centre of Israel’s religious calendar.

• 1. The Feast of Passover (Unleavened Bread)
  We analysed this feast thoroughly in Exodus 12
• 2. The Feast of the Harvest of the First Fruits (Feast of Weeks)
• 3. The Feast of the Ingathering (Feast of Booths/Tabernacles)

These feasts do not apply to us as believers under the New Covenant, so permit me not to dwell much on them for the sake of time and space. But I’d like to do a quick one on verse 19…

Exo. 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God…

To gain a true biblical perspective on first fruit offerings, listen to this sermon by Pastor Dammy: What Grace Says About “First Fruits” Offerings

CONCERNING THE ANGEL

Exo. 23:20 “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

I believe this is another example of Theophany (Christ manifesting before incarnation), especially when we consider the following:

• 1. So far, they have enjoyed the presence and ministry of this Angel (Exo. 13:21-22, Exo. 14:19)
• 2. This Angel has the authority to forgive sins. (Exo. 23:21)
• 3. God’s Name is in Him. (Exo. 23:21)

The difference between the Israelites and believers is basically the covenant. We are not under the same covenant. Under the law, God would not pardon their sins, but under grace, God has pardoned our sins. Under the law, God would not forget their sins, but under grace, God has forgotten our sins. Under the law, their imperfection is their undoing, but under grace, Christ’s perfection is our blessedness.

Dear Gogolights, permit me to draw your attention to a line in verse 15: none shall appear before Me empty… The NLT reads “no one may appear before me without an offering.” Permit me to remind us that one of the ways we honour God is our giving in Church. You can visit our 5-part series titled: Excelling In The Grace Of Giving

Tag five people and tell them: Christ’s perfection is our blessedness!

God bless you for reading. We shall continue tomorrow.

Grace to you, Church!