Day 39

I feel misled. For a long time, it was my understanding that Moses only received the 10 Commandments when on the mountain, but after reading the following chapters, there are many more laws that were not mentioned.

The Lord provides us with Laws about Social Justice in chapters 22 and 23. One that really struck me is found in chapter 23 verse 4 and 5, "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him."

Those verses ask a lot! This is a law that God gives to treat your neighbor as your friend and help out when it is needed. Even if it is someone who hates you or someone who is your enemy. For me, this is so hard to do!

I seem to get some gratification when seeing someone I don't like suffering or struggling. That may even be human nature. But that is not what God commands us to do! Instead of watching and not helping, God requires us to help out when even our enemy is having trouble. This is not easy, but this may be one way to set Christians apart from everyone else. This is how to show God's love. I need to start making an effort to do what God requires.