October 4, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Exodus - Laws About Social Justice
Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. 18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. 20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
The laws of social justice were implemented for the same reason the ten commandments and the laws of restitution were implemented. Israel had no law, they had nothing by which to govern themselves. God gave then laws for many reasons. Laws of restitution, social justice, cleanliness, dietary laws and the like were for their own good.
Consider verses sixteen and seventeen. Simply put, if a man enticed a virgin to have sex with him he was to take responsibility for his actions. He was to marry the girl. Do we see that today? Our society allows the opposite behaviour, in fact it is engrained in our young people to lose their virginity and experience sex as soon as possible and as young a possible.
There are a myriad amount of apps where young people are “sexting” each other and sending photos of each other and having those messages and images disappear after a few moments leaving no trace of their conversation. Responsibility for such actions are tossed out the window.
Virginity is not so well loved and lifted as it should be. God honours the pure and righteous no matter what age we live in. Dad, mom, teach your young the blessings of purity in both mind and heart and body.
It was by the purity of the virgin that God sent His only begotten son to save our souls.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
We also see the influence of the parents. The father and mother can sees the young man and realizes he’s no good and refuses to give their daughter to him. Yet, because of his sin and indiscretion he still has to take responsibility and pay the dowry.
Responsibility, if executed properly, would not have allowed this type of action in the first place.
However, God knows people and knows their hearts and is compelled to give these laws.
With God, in 2025, sin is still sin. With God in 2025, He still offers His grace and mercy to all who would repent of sin and trust the Lord Jesus to save their souls.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
