Introduction: Regent University School of Law, where I
teach, has an introductory course called “Foundations of the
Law.” What amazes many students is that much of the
American legal system finds its foundation in God’s law,
especially the rules given by God through Moses. Have you
heard someone say, “You cannot legislate morality?” What
should be meant by that is you cannot change a person’s
heart by outside pressure. The Biblically illiterate might
understand that to mean that the law should not reflect
moral principles. Almost all law reflects moral principles,
the question is whose morality? Let’s dive into our study of
God’s morality and how it affects our laws. We will only
look at some of the laws God gave through Moses.
I. Slavery
A. Read Exodus 21:1-2. The first rule about our
relationship with others is regulating slavery! Are
you shocked that the Bible gives rules for slavery,
rather than simply banning it?
1. Didn’t God just release the Hebrews from
slavery? Why would they want slaves?
2. What kind of slaves are being addressed here?
(Hebrew slaves!)
B. Look again at Exodus 21:2. If the Bible did not use
the term “slave,” would you call this slavery? (No.
It has a six-year term and seems like a lease,
rather than a purchase.)
1. Is this more like a modern employment contract
for six years?
C. Read Exodus 21:3-6. How can you become a permanent
slave?
1. Could you imagine choosing to be a permanent
slave under these conditions? (This may
require some serious thought. I think many
people would chose security and safety over
freedom.)
D. Read Exodus 21:27. What does this teach us about
the Biblical rules of slavery? (You could not beat
your slave. If you knocked out the slave’s tooth,
the slave went free.)
E. Read Exodus 21:16. The verses we have looked at
refer to buying or selling a slave. Who is doing
the selling? (It is not strangers. The David Guzik
commentary says there are four ways a Hebrew might
become a slave: 1) A person might sell himself; 2)
A father might sell his children; 3) Bankruptcy
might cause you to become a slave; and, 4) A thief
unable to pay restitution could become a slave.)
1. Does this seem anything like classic slavery?
2. If a person purchases a Hebrew slave, the
Bible rules regulate that relationship. But if
a person steals another person to sell as a
slave, that person must be put to death. Is
that how we view past slavery? That those who
captured and sold slaves to others were guilty
of a much greater evil?
a. Is this modern human trafficking?
II. Killing
A. Read Exodus 21:12-13. Some Christians are against
the death penalty because they believe the murderer
might become a believer. What does this teach us
about that view?
1. Notice that verse 13 contains an exception to
the death penalty. What is it? (This is the
modern legal concept of premeditation. If the
death is not premeditated, it results from an
accident or passion, then the killer “may
flee.”)
2. Where can the killer flee? (These are called
“Cities of Refuge.” Read Deuteronomy 19:4-7.
The killer could flee to one of these three
cities and live.)
B. Read Matthew 5:21-22. Jesus’ words seem hard to
explain since Proverbs regularly refers to fools.
What light does Deuteronomy 19:4 cast on Jesus’
statement? (Jesus condemns the attitude of wanting
to harm another person.)
III. Honoring Parents
A. Read Exodus 21:15 and Exodus 21:17. Should this be
the law today? (David Guzik’s commentary suggests
that this should be read with Exodus 21:12. A child
who murdered or attempted to murder his parents
should die.)
B. Read Deuteronomy 21:18-21. How does this modify the
rule regarding putting children to death? (Parents
did not have the authority to kill their children,
they must have the endorsement of the elders of the
city. Guzik says the death of the child for
rebellion happened “rarely if ever.”)
1. Why would God have such a rule? (As parents
become elderly they are vulnerable to wicked
children. The family unit is important to the
foundation of society.)
IV. Property Crimes
A. Read Exodus 22:1. Why does the penalty depend on
whether the thief “kills it or sells it?” (This
sounds like a professional thief.)
B. Read Exodus 22:2-3. Once again, we have a rule with
an exception. Under what conditions can you kill a
thief to protect your property? (When it is dark.)
1. Why does that make a difference? (During the
daylight you can better judge the threat to
yourself and your family. The idea is to
encourage reasonable action.)
C. Read Exodus 22:4. This rule is related to the rule
in Exodus 22:1. The penalty here is lower, but is
still more than the value of the stolen animal.
What do you think is God’s goal with these rules?
(The focus is on the victim. This is much different
than American criminal law. Theoretically we send
the criminal to prison and the victim suffers the
loss. More than that the victim pays taxes to feed
and house the criminal! Under God’s plan the victim
was more than compensated and that was the
deterrence to crime, not prison.)
1. How did American criminal law get so out of
sync with the Biblical rules? (The theory of
American criminal law is that the crime is
against the state. The theory behind the Ten
Commandments is that we have obligations to
God but also an obligation of love to each
other.)
D. Read 2 Samuel 12:4-7. Nathan tells King David a
story about a stolen lamb and David says he would
impose not only restitution but also capital
punishment. Nathan is talking about David’s sin.
Read Psalms 51:4. How does David view his sin? (He
views it, like American law, as only a crime
against God.)
1. Is David right? (We need to look at this from
two different views. David is talking about
sin and judgment. When it comes to our sins
and judgment, that is a matter between God and
the sinner only. The other view is one of
restitution. God is concerned about us making
the victim whole. David’s sin made restitution
impossible.)
V. Sabbath Law
A. Read Exodus 23:10-12. This reinforces the fourth of
the Ten Commandments which is to rest on the
seventh day. (See Exodus 20:8-11.) But this extends
to the land. Why would the land need a rest?
(Letting the land lie fallow is consistent with
modern sustainable agricultural practices. One
interesting thing I learned is that it also breaks
the life cycle of pests and diseases for certain
crops.)
1. What else does a Sabbath rest for the land
accomplish? (It gives rest to the animals we
use to grow crops. It allows the poor and the
animals to gather what comes up naturally from
the land.)
2. What does this tell us about God and the
Sabbath? (The Sabbath rest is an organic part
of God. It is part of His overall system for
better living.)
VI. Conquering Canaan
A. Read Exodus 23:20-22. What is key to success in
life? (Obeying God. If we do, He will take our
side.)
B. Read Exodus 23:23-25 and Exodus 23:27-28. What is
God’s battle plan for His people to conquer the
promised land? (Terror, confusion, and hornets.)
1. Consider this. Is this regular warfare?
(Perhaps psychological terror, but God is
doing the heavy lifting, using even insects to
win.)
C. Friend, what do you say about the rules that God
gave through Moses? Are you convinced that God has
what is best for you in mind? If so, why not ask
the Holy Spirit to help you become more and more
obedient to God?
VII. Next week: The Covenant and the Blueprint.
Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail,
but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this
link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.
