Accidental or Intentional

I must confess that there are times I’ve done something intentional that had some results that were not intended. I’ve heard the term unintended consequences when a person does something that appears on the surface to be good, but something bad comes out of it.

God is giving His people the law and He starts being specific about personal injury or death. He is trying to put boundaries and show that He values life. Check this out…

12 ‘Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death. (Exodus 21:12-14 NIV)

As I read this I realized that God is a God of LIFE. He is also a God of mercy. There are times when unintended consequences happen and the worse case scenario comes because of it. I used to deer hunt several years ago and I got a little funny feeling in the pit of my stomach when I took the life of a deer. I did actually eat the deer and provide for my family, but I wasn’t expecting the sick feeling after killing such a large animal. I can’t imagine taking the life of a person. I don’t believe I’d have a hard time taking someone out who was actually trying to hurt my family or me. I also have never had a problem killing a bug or spider. I believe that God values life because He created life from nothing.

I also believe in the mercy and grace of God. I believe that God can forgive a murderer on death row even though the consequences of his sin are the death penalty. I sometimes feel like God’s bar of forgiveness is a bit too high for me. He loves deeper and more thoroughly than I can comprehend or wrap my head around. This passage makes me stop and think about what my life is really about. I want to intentionally make it count for Him.

Pressing On!

Dwayne