I thought I'd do something a little different today and highlight two parallel passages (one from the Old Testament and one from the New) to see what insights we might find. Here's a section from today's reading:
"Anyone who hits and kills a fellow human
must be put to death.
Anyone who kills someone's animal must make it good—
a life for a life.
Anyone who injures his neighbor
will get back the same as he gave:
fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
What he did to hurt that person will be done to him.
Anyone who hits and kills an animal must make it good,
but whoever hits and kills a fellow human will be put to death.
And no double standards: the same rule goes for foreigners and natives.
I am God, your God."
I feel like this passage presents a sense of God's just nature. He wanted His people to follow the Golden Rule and if they didn't, the punishment could "fit the crime." I thought it was interesting that in two places, there was a distinction made between animals and humans (not necessarily the common logic of our time) and that a version of the death penalty was established for taking human life. Personally, I think it's because all human beings are "made in the image of God"--our lives are highly valuable to Him. Animals (though still highly valued--more in this passage as assets to someone's livelihood) do not have that same distinction.
Compare today's excerpt with what Jesus said in the New Testament:
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look:
'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.'
Is that going to get us anywhere?
Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.'
If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
If someone drags you into court
and sues for the shirt off your back,
giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
And if someone takes unfair advantage of you,
use the occasion to practice the servant life.
No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously."
To me, this passage exemplifies God's grace and generosity. He wants His people to exhibit the same spirit--to stop getting caught up in pettiness (the "tit-for-tat stuff").
The two passages don't contradict, but rather complement each other. I know Jesus encouraged people to follow the Golden Rule principles in the New Testament. And I also believe that He showed value for human lives--even those who were outcasts from society or treated badly by others (e.g. women, children, Samaritans, poor, tax collectors, etc.). Likewise, although Jesus encouraged His people refrain from hitting back, He also knew God designated authorities in civil governments to punish those who committed crimes, for example.
I hope that through our side-by-side comparison today that you were able to see the multi-faceted nature of who God is. It's kind of a paradox: God's simple enough for children to understand and love Him, but He is also so complex that no human being can fully grasp all that He is.
Tomorrow: Leviticus 26-27
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