Exodus 22:16-24:18

God gives further instructions to the Israelites, including what to do if a man seduces a virgin. Then God establishes three annual festivals to worship God; these festivals are the Feast of Unleavened Bread , the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of the Ingathering. God then promises to protect the people of Israel as long as they are faithful to God. The leaders of Israel accept this covenant with the Lord.

There have been several times when people have read this passage and then asked me why it is that God requires a man who takes advantage of a woman to then marry that woman unless the father objects to the marriage. This hardly seems fair. However, in this culture to marry the woman off would have been the best way to offer her protection. An unmarried non-virgin woman who has been rejected by her father would have been forced to fend for herself. By requiring the man to marry the woman, God is showing love and protection for her future.

Each of the feasts is an opportunity to thank God for his blessing. The Feast of Unleavened Bread thanks God for delivering the nation from Egypt, the Feast of Harvest thanks God for bringing them through another season, and the Feast of the Ingathering thanks God for all the food he has blessed them with through the harvest.

God is willing to protect us and care for us if we are willing to be faithful to God. We need to spend our time thanking God for all of the blessings. We need to establish regular times when we remember God blessings and the gift of salvation he has offered us through Jesus Christ.

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