Page 47 - Part One

Under The Fig Tree

When you were under the fig tree
I saw you

WEEK 5

Introduction

This week we will continue our studies of Exodus. We begin the second month of our studies. It
may be useful to review the introduction to the course from last month’s notes. This will ensure that
you have established disciplines for your studies so that you get the most out of them. In particular
you should consider whether you have been experiencing the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Day 1

Exodus Chapter 21. One day the Kingdom of Heaven will come in fully. In that day we will no
longer experience the problems of this fallen world. Those who are sons and daughters of the Living
God, reborn of His Spirit through faith in Yeshua HaMashaich, will live with Him forever in the
Kingdom that is prepared for us. Meanwhile, we, like the Children of Israel, live in the world as it is
now, which requires us to know what is right and wrong, good and evil. God alone can show us
what pleases Him and how we should live, so He gave laws to Israel. Even though the word Torah is
wider than “dos” and “don'ts”, the teaching of God contains “law” the clear rules for living
uprightly on this earth – things we should do and should not do. This is a big subject, since every
word we use, particularly law is interpreted through our way of thinking. This is often interpreted
through ways of the world that are not 100% biblical in their definition and enforcement. Yet, law is
a word we can interpret biblically, defining the fences of life that bring safety and freedom. We will
find these laws in the Bible, especially in the first five books. These laws are part of God’s teaching.
He wants His people to live by them through the willingness of their hearts. The New Covenant,
enabled by the sacrificial death of Yeshua, brought the gift of the Holy Spirit so that now we have
these same laws written on our hearts, embedded in God's teaching and motivated by our desire to
please God.

The Children of Israel were pioneers of our faith. They received the laws through Moses and began
learning how to live by them in the wilderness. We will learn much from this as we read the account
of Israel. We will see how people like us responded to the laws of God well before His Spirit was
more freely given to each of us, as individuals. The laws take account of all the needs that later
emerged in the community of Israel. In the reality of life, as it worked out, some Israelites would
become servants of other Israelites. Sometimes there were problems involving animals and debts.
Sometimes there were disputes leading to physical harm. All these things are dealt with by God.
Absolute justice and mercy underpins all God’s laws. The principle of eye for eye and tooth for
tooth symbolizes the justice of God. However, the principle of forgiveness to the repentant sinner is
also behind all of God’s laws; mercy triumphs over justice.