Introduction: Regent University School of Law, where I teach, has an introductory course called “Foundations of the Law.” What amazes many students is that much of the American legal system finds its foundation in God’s law, especially the rules given by God through Moses. Have you heard someone say, “You cannot legislate morality?” What should be meant by that is you cannot change a person’s heart by outside pressure. The Biblically illiterate might understand that to mean that the law should not reflect moral principles. Almost all law reflects moral principles; the question is whose morality? Let’s dive into our study of God’s morality and how it affects our laws. We will only look at some of the laws God gave through Moses.

I. Slavery

A. Read Exodus 21:1-2. The first rule about our relationship with others is regulating slavery! Are you shocked that the Bible gives rules for slavery, rather than simply banning it?

1. Didn’t God just release the Hebrews from slavery? Why would they want slaves?
2. What kind of slaves are being addressed here? (Hebrew slaves!)

B. Look again at Exodus 21:2. If the Bible did not use the term “slave,” would you call this slavery? (No. It has a six-year term and seems like a lease, rather than a purchase.)

1. Is this more like a modern employment contract for six years?

C. Read Exodus 21:3-6. How can you become a permanent slave?

1. Could you imagine choosing to be a permanent slave under these conditions? (This may require some serious thought. I think many people would chose security and safety over freedom.)

D. Read Exodus 21:27. What does this teach us about the Biblical rules of slavery? (You could not beat your slave. If you knocked out the slave’s tooth, the slave went free.)

E. Read Exodus 21:16. The verses we have looked at refer to buying or selling a slave. Who is doing the selling? (It is not strangers. The David Guzik commentary says there are four ways a Hebrew might become a slave: 1) A person might sell himself; 2) A father might sell his children; 3) Bankruptcy might cause you to become a slave; and, 4) A thief unable to pay restitution could become a slave.)

1. Does this seem anything like classic slavery?
2.  If a person purchases a Hebrew slave, the Bible rules regulate that relationship. But if a person steals another person to sell as a slave, that person must be put to death. Is that how we view past slavery? Were those who captured and sold slaves to others guilty of a much greater evil?

a. Is this modern human trafficking?

II. Killing

A. Read Exodus 21:12-13. Some Christians are against the death penalty because they believe the murderer might become a believer. What does this teach us about that view?

1. Notice that verse 13 contains an exception to the death penalty. What is it? (This is the modern legal concept of premeditation. If the death is not premeditated, it results from an accident or passion, then the killer “may flee.”)
2. Where can the killer flee? (These are called “Cities of Refuge.” Read Deuteronomy 19:4-7. The killer could flee to one of these three cities and live.)

B. Read Matthew 5:21-22. Jesus’ words seem hard to explain since Proverbs regularly refers to fools. What light does Deuteronomy 19:4 cast on Jesus’ statement? (Jesus condemns the attitude of wanting to harm another person.)

III. Honoring Parents

A. Read Exodus 21:15 and Exodus 21:17. Should this be the law today? (David Guzik’s commentary suggests that this should be read with Exodus 21:12. A child who murdered or attempted to murder his parents should die.)

B. Read Deuteronomy 21:18-21. How does this modify the rule regarding putting children to death? (Parents did not have the authority to kill their children, they must have the endorsement of the elders of the city. Guzik says the death of the child for rebellion happened “rarely if ever.”)

1. Why would God have such a rule? (As parents become elderly they are vulnerable to wicked children. The family unit is important to the foundation of society.)

IV. Property Crimes

A. Read Exodus 22:1. Why does the penalty depend on whether the thief “kills it or sells it?” (This sounds like a professional thief.)

B. Read Exodus 22:2-3. Once again, we have a rule with an exception. Under what conditions can you kill a thief to protect your property? (When it is dark.)

1. Why does that make a difference? (During the daylight you can better judge the threat to yourself and your family. The idea is to encourage reasonable action.)

C. Read Exodus 22:4. This rule is related to the rule in Exodus 22:1. The penalty here is lower, but is still more than the value of the stolen animal. What do you think is God’s goal with these rules? (The focus is on the victim. This is much different than American criminal law. Theoretically we send the criminal to prison and the victim suffers the loss. More than that the victim pays taxes to feed and house the criminal! Under God’s plan the victim was more than compensated and that was the deterrence to crime, not prison.)

1. How did American criminal law get so out of sync with the Biblical rules? (The theory of American criminal law is that the crime is against the state. The theory behind the Ten Commandments is that we have obligations to God but also an obligation of love to each other.)

D. Read 2 Samuel 12:4-7. Nathan tells King David a story about a stolen lamb and David says he would impose not only restitution but also capital punishment. Nathan is talking about David’s sin. Read Psalms 51:4. How does David view his sin? (He views it, like American law, as only a crime against God.)

1. Is David right? (We need to look at this from two different views. David is talking about sin and judgment. When it comes to our sins and judgment, that is a matter between God and the sinner only. The other view is one of restitution. God is concerned about us making the victim whole. David’s sin made restitution impossible.)

V. Sabbath Law

A. Read Exodus 23:10-12. This reinforces the fourth of the Ten Commandments which is to rest on the seventh day. (See Exodus 20:8-11.) But this extends to the land. Why would the land need a rest? (Letting the land lie fallow is consistent with modern sustainable agricultural practices. One interesting thing I learned is that it also breaks the life cycle of pests and diseases for certain crops.)

1. What else does a Sabbath rest for the land accomplish? (It gives rest to the animals we use to grow crops. It allows the poor and the animals to gather what comes up naturally from the land.)
2. What does this tell us about God and the Sabbath? (The Sabbath rest is an organic part of God. It is part of His overall system for better living.)

VI. Conquering Canaan

A. Read Exodus 23:20-22. What is key to success in life? (Obeying God. If we do, He will take our side.)

B. Read Exodus 23:23-25 and Exodus 23:27-28. What is God’s battle plan for His people to conquer the promised land? (Terror, confusion, and hornets.)

1. Consider this. Is this regular warfare? (Perhaps psychological terror, but God is doing the heavy lifting, using even insects to win.)

C. Friend, what do you say about the rules that God gave through Moses? Are you convinced that God has what is best for you in mind? If so, why not ask the Holy Spirit to help you become more and more obedient to God?

VII. Next week: The Covenant and the Blueprint.

Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

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