Faithfulness To God Shows Up In How You Handle Everyday Responsibility

Exodus 21:33–22:15

33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.

35 “When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

22 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and cfour sheep for a sheep. 2 1 If a thief is found dbreaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He2 shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then ehe shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast fis found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, ghe shall pay double.

5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.

6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.

7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, ghe shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 han oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if iit is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.

14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.

It is easy to think that faith is mostly about the big moments. The dramatic sins. The public failures. The obvious acts of obedience. But as we move through this section of Exodus, God presses in on something far more ordinary. He shows us that faithfulness to Him is often revealed in the small, everyday responsibilities of life. In how we treat other people’s property. In how we respond when damage is done. In whether we take responsibility or look for someone else to blame. This passage reminds us that God cares deeply about the ordinary details of our lives, because those details reveal what our hearts are really like.

These laws deal with situations that feel very normal. A pit left uncovered. An animal that wanders where it should not. Property that is damaged. Something borrowed that is lost or broken. None of this feels particularly spiritual at first glance. But that is precisely the point. God is shaping a people whose faith reaches into every corner of life. He is teaching them that love for neighbour is not an abstract idea. It is worked out in responsibility, honesty, and care.

Again and again, the principle is simple. If your actions cause harm, you are responsible. If your negligence leads to loss, you are accountable. God refuses to allow people to shrug their shoulders and say, accidents happen. He is not creating a culture of blame, but a culture of ownership. A people who understand that their choices affect others. A people who are willing to make things right.

This is deeply countercultural. We live in a world that is very good at deflecting responsibility. We minimise our part. We justify our behaviour. We explain why it was not really our fault. But God teaches His people a better way. When something goes wrong, the question is not how do I get out of this, but how do I love my neighbour in this moment.

Notice too that God makes careful distinctions. There is a difference between theft and loss. Between deliberate harm and unavoidable accident. Between negligence and circumstances beyond control. God’s justice is thoughtful. It is measured. It takes intention seriously. This tells us something important about God. He is not harsh. He is fair. He understands the complexity of life in a broken world. And He expects His people to reflect that same care and wisdom in how they treat one another.

At the heart of all of this is trust. These laws assume a community where people live closely together. Where possessions are shared. Where animals wander. Where borrowing happens. God wants His people to be able to live together without fear. Without suspicion. Without constant conflict. Responsibility builds trust. And trust allows a community to flourish.

And once again, this points us forward to Jesus. Because none of us has perfectly lived this way. We have all benefited from grace we did not deserve. We have all caused damage, sometimes without even realising it. And yet Jesus takes responsibility for what we broke. He pays the cost for what we lost. He restores what we could not fix. Where we fail to love our neighbour, He loves perfectly. Where we avoid responsibility, He embraces it all the way to the cross.

So what might this mean for you today. Perhaps it is a simple question. Are there places where you need to take responsibility instead of explaining yourself. Are there relationships where repair is needed. Are there moments where love for your neighbour looks like making things right, even when it costs you something. Faithfulness is often quiet. It rarely looks impressive. But it reflects the heart of a God who cares deeply about how His people live together.

Prayer

Father, teach us to take responsibility for our actions. Help us love our neighbours not just in words, but in honesty and care. Show us where we need to make things right. And thank You for Jesus, who took responsibility for our sin and restored what we could not. Shape us to live lives that reflect Your justice and Your grace. In Jesus name, Amen.

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