Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
Our last study of Exodus Chapter 22 revealed that Gods laws are relational and not regimented/mechanical. His commands are out to protect and help us and all that belong to us. We also learnt that justice is balanced with compassion, while holiness is balanced with mercy. Finally, as children of God we are expected to reflect God’s character.
We continue our study today in Chapter 23 where the our learning focus will be on:

• Laws divinely delivered by God to the Israelites through Moses.
• Laws that guide societal norms, rituals and a comprehensive guide for life.

Verses 1-9: Lays the foundation for societal justice, demanding honesty and guiding the treatment of adversaries.

Verse 1: Bearing false witness/aligning with the wicked to pervert justice.
For an example: Someone says something you know it’s false about another, yet you pass same message to others. Similarly, passing information unknown to you that it’s false does not absolve you from guilt. You can’t be guiltless. A common example is the use of social media to spread unfounded messages that may defame another person’s reputation. The Bible warns against this.

Verse 2: Following the crowd to do wrong, underscores individual conscience & moral courage.
This is closely linked to the warning in V1. We are warned to against ignorantly or maliciously supporting evil against the innocent. Choosing to join hands with them is a curse. Popular opinion is not often the right opinion. Jesus in Matt 7:13 admonishes that not to follow popular opinion sheepishly.we

Verse 3: Showing favouritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.
Focus here is on impartial justice. Irrespective of a person’s economic status, you can’t run foul of the law. Ie. If the poor is hungry and chooses to a steal to justify his hungry state, his in violation of the law. If there is a perversion of justice, irrespective of the economic state of the guilty, we can’t allow our emotions to rule in his favour. He is the God of justice.

Verse 4 & 5. Admonishes the Israelites to help their enemies ass or donkey when in when wondering off or under a burden.
This transcends the traditional law of ‘an eye for an eye’. Promotes empathy even to those considered to be foes. Bringing this back home, you are driving on M1 and you see your enemy’s car broke down, stop to help/give him a lift.

Verses 6 &7. Reminds us not to deny the poor of justice or kill the innocent/righteous
Clear cut for fairness and protection of the vulnerable. Our legal system today most often acts in the opposite on the premise that ‘the law is blind’.
Verse 8 Warns against acceptance of bribes & corruption in our society, reminding us that integrity is not a commodity to be traded.

Verse 9. Warns against oppressing a foreigner as the Israelites were themselves foreigners in Egypt.
It warns against oppressing sojourners/foreigners in their land. Note that they at this time of this warning, the Israelites were on their way to the promised land. This calls to mind recent incidents of Xenophobic attacks in some parts of the world. Calls for empathy and understanding of those different from us. The emphasis is to see the world as a global village where we can all relate freely. Always remember your humble beginnings and treat others the way you want to be treated.
Verses 10-19 captures and emphasizes religious laws. Laws regarding rest and festivals:

Verses 10 & 11 Talks of the sabbatical year.
Every 7th year the Israelites were commanded to let their land rest or lie fallow to allow the poor to eat what naturally grows and leave the remains for wildlife. It’s amazing how a land left fallow without being tended will grow food. Just tells how God takes care of our needs without an effort from us. This law helps with sustainable farming, communal living and care for the environment. Again, in those days manure/fertilizers were not applied so leaving the land fallow restores nutrients/rejuvenates it.
Again, taking a day off to rest in a week was recommended for the Israelites, their donkeys and servants. A crucial advice to take a day off to rest and not break down. Resting does not necessarily mean non-activity. Family outing, playing games etc, but not work related. These are therapeutic activities that rejuvenates the body and mind. Working from home is not resting. The Bible says the glory of the youth is their strength. The young because of the strength may choose to be a workaholic, however as you age the physical body and the mind slows down. It is therefore wise to learn to rest from early in life.

Verses 12 - 17. Outlines three major festivals
The feast of unleavened bread (a.k.a. the feast of the Passover), “You shall 15:23 Exkeep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);” - show of appreciation to God for all he has done and will still do.
• Feast of harvest Ex 23:16 “and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.”
• Feast of Harvest otherwise known as the feast of the Pentecost - celebrated 50 days after Passover.
• Feast of ingathering - also known as the feast of tabernacles.

Ex 23:17 “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.”. As a male Jew they were required to attend these feast three times in a year.
• God demands the first of every good thing He gave us. First fruit, first blessings, etc. He Himself gave His first fruit to mankind.
• The feast of in-gathering. The Jews were to gather and offer their 1st fruits to God. Consumption of fat and blood was prohibited. Blood was considered respect for life. Leviticus 17:11A “For the life of the flesh is in the blood,…” fat represented the choosiest party of an animal reserved for God alone.
• In In same verse God warms against boiling a young goat in his mother’s milk. This law seems obscure, but may relate to pagan worship, the law was enacted to prevent Israelis from worshipping their God the idols way.

Verses 20 - 33, Here God promises the Israel an angel to guide them on their journey.
A divine messenger to guide them to the land he has prepared for them. This promise however comes with stern warning: the children of Israel must not defile or rebel against this angel because he carries a divine mandate/authority. Ex 23:21 says “Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.” - the angel was carrying Gods authority. For as long as the Angel goes before them every enemy on their path will be taken down. Just as when we prayed in the name of Jesus and remain obedient, God promised to take care of our adversaries.
They were promised Guidance in exchange for obedience#. Reward of adherence and the consequences of disobedience.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this thought provoking chapter clearly lays out for the Israelites, Societal justice, Religious observance and Obedience to God’s commands.