Studying the Laws of God: Vicious Animal Attacks

Exodus 21
28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.

An "ox" can also represent any other animal. If a dog kills a man or a woman, he should be put down. This passage requires the use of common sense.

In my younger, wilder days, I worked at a local semi-biker bar to pay the bills. Working nights gave me the opportunity to get to know many of my customers. I remember one guy that would come in at the same time every night. If he didn't show up, I got worried. But, he only drank two beers, then he would leave.

As I spoke with him, I learned that he was starting his own paint and body shop for Semi-trucks. He owned a very mean one-man dog -- a pit bull that was very territorial.

The patron would chain the dog up in the shop at night to ward off intruders. The shop was located in a very bad part of town.

One night, a man broke in and the dog broke the chain and killed the man. The next morning, the patron came to work to a very gruesome sight.

The police were called. They incarcerated the dog and set a court date. The prosecuting attorney wanted to put the dog to sleep. The judge, however, ruled that the dog "was just doing his job," and gave the dog back to his owner.

God's law does not intend for the loss of life; but, God does provide sanctuary for anyone who kills in self-defense or while protecting his family or property. The same should also be for animals who are used for service of any kind. However, just to be clear about this: God's Word does NOT make such a distinction for animals. Listening to the Holy Spirit with-in you is vital in such cases.

Exodus 21:29
But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.

The dog had been chained in the shop at night behind locked doors. If the door of the shop had been left open, or the dog had been freed to roam around, the patron dog-owner would have been just as responsible for the burglar's death. He, too, should have received the death penalty had that been the case.

Exodus 21:30
If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.

Perhaps the judge should kill the patron dog-owner for his negligence, but they offer him his freedom if he is willing to pay the family five-million dollars for the loss of their loved one. If the patron can pay the restitution, then he should, by God's law, be allowed to go free.

Exodus 21:
31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

However, if the patron dog-owner's dog had killed one of the hired hands on the job, the judgment would have been different. The reason for this is that the hired hand knew about the dog, and was trained to be aware of the dangers. The patron would still have to pay restitution, but the punishment is not as steep. According to the verses, an amount equal to today's worth would have put the patron paying about $3,840.00 for the loss of his helper.

It's amazing how job-related accidents today pay much more sometimes to the families, yet this is what God recommends for payment.

Carmen Grace: Miracles still happen...

PRAISE the LORD HE LIVES and HIS HOLY SPIRIT still SAVES. IF you need PRAYERS ANSWERED and HEALING whether emotional, physical or spiritual know that GOD is still on the THRONE. HE is our EVERLASTING HOPE!~CG

Check out a list of miracles in the Bible at the Bible Encyclopedia by clicking HERE

Recent posts...Apology

I apologize for some recent posts that were intended to go on another blog. I have deleted those posts from the God Inspires blog. Please forgive my oversight.

Shonda Ponder, Chief Coordinator
God Inspires

and editor,
The Ponder News

Vince Gill to Join 500 Local Volunteers in Packaging Meals at Stop Hunger Now’s New U.S. Location

Nashville, TN - January 20, 2016 (God Inspires) -- Stop Hunger Now will celebrate its newest warehouse location at a Grand Opening event on Saturday, Jan 23, 2016 at Calvary United Methodist Church. Country music legend Vince Gill will be on hand to help package meals along with 500 volunteers during the four-hour event.

“I’ve always believed that if somebody needs a helping hand, you should reach out to help,” said Gill. “I’m looking forward to packaging meals and learning more about Nashville’s newest nonprofit, Stop Hunger Now, and how our community can support their vision of ending world hunger.”

The event will mark the accomplishments of supporters, funders and meal packaging volunteers that helped establish Stop Hunger in Tennessee. To date, more than 1.4 million meals have already been packaged in the Nashville area. In just the past year, Stop Hunger Now engaged more than 2,000 volunteers from the Nashville area.

Stop Hunger Now meal packaging events are a volunteer-based program that coordinates the streamlined packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, flavoring, and 23 essential vitamins and minerals. The popular and effective meal packaging program provides local residents–churches, civic groups, businesses, schools–a hands-on way to help end world hunger.

Groups of all sizes and ages can organize a meal packaging event with Stop Hunger Now to assemble meals that are used to support development programs such as school feeding, vocational training, and early childhood development programs, orphanages, and medical clinics. Working with these programs helps enhance lives by giving beneficiaries the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through education, skills development, and health care while also receiving much-needed nutrition.

Stop Hunger Now President and CEO Rod Brooks will be on hand for for this grand opening event. “We are grateful that the Nashville community has welcomed us and shown such strong support,” said Brooks. “What we want everyone to know is that hunger is solvable and is the common thread among the world’s most challenging issues. We look forward to engaging the Nashville community in our vision to end world hunger.”

Stop Hunger Now operates meal packaging locations in 21 other cities throughout the U.S. and six international affiliates. The new Nashville warehouse is located at 156 Space Park South.

For more than 18 years, Stop Hunger Now has been creating a movement to end hunger. More than 200 million meals have been packaged and distributed along with other aid to 73 countries impacting millions of lives. The organization is driven by a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.

The Stop Hunger Now meal packaging program was created to give dedicated individuals the opportunity to participate in a hands-on international hunger relief program and to become educated, engaged advocates for the world’s poor and hungry. In 2015, Stop Hunger Now and its global affiliates packaged 51.3 million meals.

The Contentious Brother...

Previously...

Genesis 16
7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

All of Abram's servants knew God. As a good family patriarch, it was his duty to teach him his ways, and to lead them to right living. Whether they worshiped God or not, they were taught to respect his worship of God.

So, Hagar knew Abram's God, and when the Angel of the Lord appeared before her in the wilderness, she recognized Him.

The angel instructed her to go back and submit herself to Sarai, for the Lord was going to bless her child. The angel told her to name her son Ishmael, then told her what manner of child she was carrying.

Ishmael (and his descendants) would be a wildman. In Hebrew, it is translated as "running wild", or having no authority over him.

Hagar took this as a blessing -- but what happens when a man has no authority figure to look to? He learns not to respect authority.

The angel also told her that he and his brothers would live near each other, yet they would bicker and fight all the time.

Today, it is no secret that the Muslims are descendents of Ishmael, and that the land of Palestine belongs to them. Israel and Palestine are constantly fighting with each other.

The Dome of the Rock has been a source of contention in the Middle East for ages. Israel claims that that is where the original temple stood. Palestinians claim that Ishmael was the first-born, therefore the land belongs to them.

The government claims that none of the wars that erupt there and spread out over the world are religious in nature -- that the war against terror is not a religious war. Yet, knowing the relationship of Isaac and Ishmael gives good cause not to deny it.

The Muslims attack anyone who supports Israel. Israel wants peace...in addition to what is rightfully theirs.

Genesis 16:
13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Hagar praised God because He regarded her with such honor in showing Himself to her. Before, she is like many are today: They know God is there, but does He really care? She praised a God she realized actually looked at her, a lowly servant girl from a foreign country -- though she had never regarded Him with any mind until that moment.

You can always run but you can't run from God. He will show up where ever you are if He needs you.

Genesis 16:
14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Abram was 86 years old when Ishael was born.

Abram and Sarai's lack of faith in God's plan (hence, their attempt to take matters into their own hands instead of letting God be God) has caused the fighting in the Middle East for centuries.

When you don't let God do what He promises in His way, and in HIS time, you are affecting the well-being of future generations to come.

NEXT

Hagar's Shame

Read the previous study in this series by clicking here

Genesis 16:
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

When Hagar conceived, she thought she was better than Sarai. She thought that Abram would favor her because of the child.

Abram, however, was a respecter of the law, and of his wife, Sarai. As any good patriarch of a people does, he provided and cared for those who were following him and serving him. He had no other feelings for Hagar, except that she was honored as the biological mother of his child.

Hagar, on the other hand (just like many women do with a man they have slept with) wanted more than she was allotted. She became contentious toward Sarai. She practically dared Sarai to discipline her for it.

Genesis 16:
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Sarai realized her mistake quickly. Not only did she recognize it, she took responsibility for it. She confessed her despair to Abram as if she had committed a sin that she knew she had to pay for (which, she had).

She was probably also looking for reassurance that Abram's feelings toward her had not changed, and that she was still held in high esteem by him.

Sarai also respected her station in life as being the weaker vessel, commanded to follow her husband's lead, as he was in the place of authority granted by God in her life. She loved her husband deeply. However, I believe she had just learned her lesson in placing the laws of man above God's plan.


Genesis 16:
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Abram confirmed to her that she was still the mistress of the household, and in his heart. She had not lost his respect for her station in his life. He told her that Hagar was her maid, nothing more, and that whatever she decided to do about the problem between the two he would respect.

Sarai took the opportunity to show no mercy toward Hagar's insubordination.

Abram's failure to defend her no doubt shamed her, as well as angered her, so that she decided to run away.

How many times in your life have you made a horrible mistake for which you were ashamed and thought that running away would solve your problems?

Read more...

Faith to Move Mountains -- by Carmen Grace

Are you done with God? Are you done with America? Prayers for our country and that every individual would repent and seek the Lord's forgiveness. (1 Peter 3:9) This is the Lords will. It's considered radical or extremists to those who hate the truth.

There were 54 MILLION EVANGELICALS who did not vote in 2008-2012 and it is why we are in this mess. Thank the God He is not done with us! Jesus warned us about this to come:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a FORM of GODLINESS but DENYING its POWER. Have nothing to do with such people.

We can defeat the enemy and take back what God has given us. The enemy has tried to fool us with all their evil agendas. God gave His children responsibility over the Earth, a mandate for CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. They are twisting it and using this scripture to justify their agendas.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

This means all aspects of our lives. Now its become imperative -- including how we vote, because the Government is not supposed to meddle in our personal lives. Although it does seems like by moving mountains its possible to turn things around, it may not be exactly the same but we must not give up.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Ephesian 6:11-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil...


UNITED WE STAND:

John 12:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Isaiah 2:2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.


At the end of the day, it is God who can restore our nation! God uses humans to do His mighty work. He will use a man who has his priorities right, and is not ashamed to put God first, then Family and Constitution.

“God is not done with America.” -- Senator Ted Cruz