EXODUS 22
16 “If a man seduces a virginwho is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction. 21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. – Exodus 22:16-24
EXODUS 22 LAWS ON FORNICATION & BESTIALITY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
God made man and woman for each other in marriage so that they can multiply
They are to give their bodies to each other within the sanctity of marriage
Any act of fornication outside of marriage is a violation of God’s design for sex
When a man or a woman has sex with an animal, it is an abomination to God.
Why would God include laws on fornication and bestiality? We serve a very detailed and specific God who sees everything including what’s inside of us. He lays down boundaries.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, we are told that God owns our bodies and is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We don’t own our bodies and we were bought with a price. What does this practically mean for us? Since God is the owner and we are not, we have no right to do anything we want with it. We cannot just have sex with any other person or defile our bodies having union with someone out of marriage, especially not with an animal. Bestiality is defined as sex between a human and an animal. When a human engages in this kind of perversion, he/she has lowered down God’s design to being just like animals, which do not have an intellect and a will. Premarital sex has been prevalent in our society nowadays that men and women do not know the gravity of the effects of this in our well being. Sex is not just a physical act but also an emotional bond. People will experience feelings of guilt, embarrassment, distrust, resentment, lack of respect when they indulge
In pre-marital sex or adultery.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think God was very specific about laws against defiling our bodies?
