Exodus 21:20-21

Only that God's ways are not our ways. I don't believe slavery is ever condemned in the bible, is it? Of course, now in the Western world it's a universal abomination. I think God is right, and I think the abolition of slavery is right. That's why I get all dizzy and fall down.

 

Where is it written that "a homosexual would never hit a soul"?

 

It's very possible that the Pentateuch contains two types of law:

Apodictic Law - Absolute statements
Casuistic Law - If/then statements

The former finds its example in the Ten Commandments, which were probably spoken directly from YHWH to Moses.

The latter, the casuistic law, finds an example in your quotation. These laws are probably case law, similar to supreme court decisions. It would most likely be a record of the judgements handed down by Moses and his assistants who spoke for God.

While I'm not saying this didn't find its ultimate source in God, the odds are he didn't directly speak those words to Moses in something like the Sinai experience.

But to attempt to comment directly on your question:

People have to realize that slavery in c. 1300 B.C. was much different than slavery in the 1800 A.D's. A slave, though the property of someone else, was a valued family member. Why did God allow slavery? I don't know. He did make allowances that all slaves were to go free every seven years. Most people became slaves because they were so heavily in debt, but every seven years all debts were forgiven and they were set free unless they loved their master too much and didn't want to leave.

I find the entire thing stupid, personally. I mean, why would the Israelites even WANT slaves? They had just BEEN slaves for over 400 years, for pete's sake!

Anyways, I don't know if I even answered your question, but that's what I think.

 

Who is man to question God? We are sinful, unworthy, created beings who should cheerfully accept the will and teachings of our Maker and enter into the fellowship with Him for which we were created.

Would you substitute your judgment for God's? I personally find homosexuality more abhorrent than slavery. But if even if my own inclination were otherwise, I would accept the teachings of the Lord.

 

The answer is in Israeli and world history, but ihat
takes a willingness to accept facts rather than
speculation or tradition. Too many people just want
to think up possible reasons, then call them facts,
rather than doing the work in order to learn the real
reasons.

 

In most slave-based cultures, slaves could be put to death at the whim of the owner with little or no reprisal.

The Scripture here at least brought the offense up to a punishable offense for the Israelite salve owner.

Remember also that God gave the Israelites a good degree of latitude because of "the hardeness" of their hearts such as in the matter of divorce for any reason.

HankD

 

I don't know.
He makes the rules, we are supposed to keep them.

HankD

 

Dear Eladar,


You asked:

My personal belief is that there is always a reason for what God requires of us.
Sometimes He tells us what the reason is sometimes not.

HankD