Life is sacred. That is the principle that underlies the list of laws in 21:12-36. To harm another person, even unintentionally, is a serious issue. These laws protect everyone from an unborn child (21:22-23), to slaves. Note in 21:26-27 that if a master were to inflict any permanent injury upon a slave that slave was to be given his freedom in compensation. People would often sell themselves into slavery to pay off large debts and so the compensation being awarded here is no small matter. Note also that there are laws about showing due care for creating safe environments that minimise accidents. God is putting human life in a ‘glass cabinet’, as it were. He is telling Moses that human life is sacred, no matter whose life it is. To harm another person whether intentionally, unintentionally or even by neglect is a serious moral issue and we must always take the highest care in this matter (21:29 see also Deuteronomy 22:8). I recently read a history of the church (from a secular point of view) which noted the fact that the early church was distinguished by the high value it placed on human life. The early Christians regularly rescued infants who were put out to exposure and cared for sick people whom all others had spurned. Whether slaves, beggars, infants (born and unborn), foreigners, criminals, disabled or sick, every human life was held sacred. This value should characterise us still. We must treat all people as sacred. In this way we reflect to them how precious they are to God.
Think of ways in which you can promote the welfare of others.
Read Exodus 21:12-36
