Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

We continued reading about the laws for restitution today, seeing more of how God directs

his people toward a civil and just society that treats others with respect and honors life.

He fleshes out some specific implications of the

Ten Commandments or the Ten Words and we see how those apply. When it comes to

the laws against theft, you may have noticed that for a lot of the scenarios listed, the amount the thief has to pay back exceeds what he stole.

In many ways, these consequences may have served as a deterrent against sinning.

These laws may feel kind of intimidating if you're

imagining yourself as the one who's committing the sin, but if you put yourself in the place

of the one who's sin against, you'll be grateful God establish those laws.

We also see how God protects the female

virgins by threatening men who take advantage of them with the penalty of

several years worth of wages. By the way, this isn't referring to rape, it's

referring to a seduction that leads to consensual sex.

Later, when we get to the Book of Deuteronomy, we'll see that the penalty for rape is death.

God also forbids charging interest on loans. Most interest rates in those days

started out at about 25 percent, but guess who borrows money? The needy. So to add to

the burden of one of his needy children was considered cruel.

Instead, he emphasizes compassion toward the poor and the needy.

God also has instructions for caring for the sojourners and the widows and the orphans.

He shows special attention to those who are the most vulnerable in their society.

He shows his people how to love each other and not exploit each other.

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