How do we parcel out what is most important in our lives?
I want you to imagine with me, someone does something underhanded, malicious, or simply uncaring to you. What is most important? What was done, or how we respond?
You see, we cannot control the intentions of another. Most times, we can’t even be accurate in our assumptions of the other’s intentions. We may think we know why others do what they do, but we can’t know for sure unless they divulge it to us.
On the other hand, how we respond to what is done for us can make all the difference for us, and a great many others. Do we respond in kind? There is some biblical reference to “an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth…” I think this kind of response tries its best to find its legitimacy in laws found in the Old Testament…
In Exodus 21:23-25 we read…“But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
In Leviticus 24:19-21 we read…”But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”Something to note, these sayings did not originate with the Hebrew people, they are taken from the Code of Hammurabi. This was a Babylonian legal code that predates the Old Testament by some 300 years. The code is a collection of 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar. It covered various aspects of life, including trade, property, marriage, and crime.
It was meant in its origin to be interpreted literally. Of course, the response to this literal interpretation is, when implemented it could cause the whole world to be blind.
In Matthew 5:38-39 we read…”You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
Its hard, I think, for us to really consider doing what Jesus advocates. When we are hit, we want to hit back. When we are wronged, we want to pay back in kind. It really is our human nature. We don’t have to reach back to the Code of Hammurabi, it is encoded in us to fight back.
When Jesus came to walk among us, he advocated we have a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change at the core of our being. Jesus’ focus was on forgiveness. God’s forgiveness of us, and our reciprocal forgiveness of others. Jesus knew this was the only way forward for humanity in general, and for each of us in particular.
You will remember the story of Joseph. Yes, the coat of many colors Joseph. Yes, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. Joseph who was done wrong by his brothers because of how they felt about him. Joseph who was sold into slavery. Joseph, who through a number of different scenes rose to prominence in Egypt, second only to Pharoah himself. That same Joseph is the one who had every reason to hate his brothers and to look for ways to exact revenge on them. That, however is not how the story goes. Joseph not only forgave his brothers, but he provided for them and their families during a time of famine. After the death of the family patriarch, Jacob, Joseph’s brothers are fearful of what Joseph might do. We are told, when Joseph’s brothers began to seek forgiveness, Joseph wept. He told them…”As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.”
Back to what I asked in the beginning, about what is most important that we parcel out. We are not judge, jury or executioner of anyone. THE most important thing we can parcel out is forgiveness. It goes a long way in how we are called of God to act with one another. Love and forgiveness, they are inextricably tied up with one another. We cannot truly love if we cannot forgive, and we cannot forgive except through love.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom