This Bible study is all about how God’s commands led to mercy.
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Moses’ father-in-law had told him to appoint judges as leaders over Israel to help settle disputes. Now he had to teach the Israelites and their judges the words of the Lord. Here are the words that God gave Moses to give to the Israelites, ensuring that they were led to mercy in a merciless world.
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Read all about how God’s commands led to mercy, before reflecting on it below.
Exodus 21 – 24
God’s commands led to mercy because the people were set apart
God did not give these commands as a way to restrict Israel, but rather to set them apart as a Holy nation to the Lord. These commands would teach the Israelites how to treat their neighbors. They would also give the Israelites more understanding of who God is.
God gave the law to the Israelites knowing that they could not follow it perfectly. Why would He do that (Romans 8:3)?
God’s laws led to mercy because they were contrary to culture
The laws that God gave the Israelites were contrary to the laws that most cultures were following in their day. We can see this when God told them that if they owned slaves, the slave was to be released in the seventh year unless the slave loved the master and chose to stay with the master. This was contrary to a culture that said that slaves were property and were indentured to the master for life. God also gave regulations to the Israelites that slaves could not be kidnapped and stollen in war. Rather, slaves were those who willingly chose to submit to their master for one of four reasons – extreme poverty, intention to marry, debt that could not be paid, or bankruptcy.
How is the mercy of God demonstrated in His law regarding slavery (Romans 6:16-18)?
God’s commands led to mercy by limiting punishment
God also provided a way for restitution to be made for a number of things. This is where the famous “eye for eye” passage comes from. But this was not a way to seek revenge. Rather, God was setting boundaries so that the punishment fit the crime. The cultural beliefs during this time were that if someone injured another person, their close relative could take revenge going above and beyond the original injury. We can see this concept in our culture with lawsuits that demand enormous sums of money that go above and beyond the cost of whatever was broken. God was restricting the revenge that could be taken. He wanted His people to be led to mercy – to show the love and kindness that He had shown to them.
How can you show the kindness that Christ demonstrates (1 Peter 2:23)?
God’s commands led to mercy by instructing them in true religion
God included provision for widows and orphans in these commands as well. These were the weakest members of society and the easiest to take advantage of, but God is a generous and merciful God who wants His people to be generous and merciful. God showed his character by saying “when they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.”
How are you called to act in response to this passage (James 1:27)?
God’s commands led to mercy by advocating justice and mercy
God prohibited the Israelites from spreading false reports or following the crows into doing what was wrong. God set a high standard for the Israelites, setting them apart from other nations. He led them to mercy by instructing them to care for everyone as if they were friends. If they saw their enemy’s donkey wandering off, they were to return it. What an inconvenience to return something to someone you don’t even like! Yet God loves all of His children, and He wants you to provide the same kind of care for everyone, just as He would.
How have you been led to mercy to care for others, even when you don’t like them (Matthew 5:33-34)?
God faithfully reminds us of His promises
God was with the Israelites in the wilderness, and He again reminded them that He would lead them into the promised land and make them victorious over the Canaanites. He told them to listen carefully and obey His commandments, knowing that what He said would help them live in peace with one another and make them a strong nation of believers.
Why does God give so many reminders of His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)?
Responding to God’s commands
When Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord had said, their response was the only reasonable response of a people that had seen all the miracles and wonders that God had performed in leading them out of Egypt. But their response was also in ignorance because they could not keep the law of God, and that is why they would need sacrifices to atone for their sin. Nevertheless, they responded in the same way that we should: “everything the Lord has said, we will do.”
How do you respond when you hear God’s commands (James 1:22-25)?
Reflect on how God’s commands led to mercy
This was the law that God gave the Israelites to follow. God knew that it would be impossible for anyone to perfectly follow the law, which is why we need a savior – Jesus Christ. The old law brought condemnation, but Jesus brought righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9). God’s commands led to mercy because they taught the Israelites how to have relationships with one another. But God’s commands ultimately led to mercy because they led to Jesus.
Jesus said that He had not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). How did Jesus fulfill the law? What does this mean for you as a believer? How can you be led to mercy today, knowing that Jesus has fulfilled to law?
