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81_The value of human life

Ex 21:12-14 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Gen 9:5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.

6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.

After a storm, a young boy was walking along a beach littered with thousands of stranded starfish. One by one, he picked them up and tossed them back into the ocean. An older man approached him, pointing out the futility of the boy’s efforts. “You know, there are tens of thousands stranded like this on beaches all along this coast. You can’t save them all. You aren’t really making much difference.” Undeterred, the boy picks up another starfish and replies, “But it makes a difference for this one,” before throwing it back into the sea.

This simple, heartwarming story reflects the value God places on each human life. This truth permeates Scripture, as in Exodus 21:12-14, where God’s laws emphasize the preciousness of human life and how seriously he regards murder.

The regulations in Exodus 21 address personal injury of three kinds: injuries resulting in capital punishment, injuries not resulting in capital punishment, and injuries caused by or to an animal. These laws reveal God’s justice and mercy, His respect for human dignity, and His high regard for life as a reflection of His image.

Unlike all other living creatures, man and woman are made in God’s image, a truth that survived the Fall and the Flood. In Genesis 9, God underscores this in his emphatic declaration that those who take human life will lose their own lives, because they have destroyed God’s image. This is the foundation of all human dignity. This is the reason why we were created, to bear his image. And this is the reason why we were redeemed by the blood of Christ our Lord, that we might reflect his image and glory.

This foundational truth must inform how we view ourselves and others. It is a truth that gives worth and dignity to the lowest and vilest, the poorest and most ignorant.

Exodus 21:12-14 begins with the gravest offense: premeditated murder. The deliberate destruction of life to please oneself forfeits the murderer’s own life. The value of a man’s life is so great that even the holy sanctuary offers him no shelter from justice. Nobody who has shed innocent blood may claim refuge at the altar of God. In a world increasingly numb to violence, where murder is often reduced to a statistic, this divine viewpoint is startlingly relevant. All premeditated acts of violence, including abortion and euthanasia, fall under this category, for they reflect a willful disregard for life’s sacredness. Scripture is unequivocal: “No murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15).

God’s concern for life extends beyond murder. The family, as God’s first institution, is foundational to society. Striking or cursing one’s father or mother, for instance, were both punishable by death. Parents, as earthly caregivers and authors of life, were to be given respect and filial obedience. Honour between generations is fundamental to every decent society. Adultery or casual sex tears down the bond that creates families, the bond of a man with a woman as husband and wife. As such it was punishable by death too. Disrespecting or attacking these fundamental ties is not just a familial offense; it is an affront to the divine order that attracts divine judgment and foretells societal collapse.

Verse 16 declares, “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.” To God, kidnapping and man-selling were not property offenses, for no man was property to be bought or sold. No property offense attracted capital punishment, yet these did, for they were offenses against human life. People could voluntarily raise money by selling themselves into limited servitude, but were not treated as merchandise. The laws of God repressed the wicked old custom of slavery in the ancient world, regulated it within the bounds of common humanity by banning man-stealing and man-selling, and eventually led to its overthrow. God’s law, far from instituting or supporting slavery, is a timeless rebuke to the atrocity of enslaving and trafficking in men and women.

Even accidental manslaughter cannot be dismissed lightly. God provided cities of refuge for the unintentional killer, protecting him against unmerited vengeance while acknowledging the value of the life lost. This balanced justice and mercy in reckoning the value of every human life.

In ancient society where slaves were less than human, God’s laws (verses 18-27) raised them to the dignity of common humanity. Masters were held accountable for their treatment of their slaves. If a master beat his slave to death with a rod, he was punished, unless life lingered for a day or two. This ensured that the master had every interest in keeping the slave alive. If he still died, the master lost both his money and his slave’s service. If the master caused the loss of the slave’s eye or tooth, the slave was set free. The twin principle of responsibility for one’s actions, and of adequate compensation, are laid out here. Violence originates in the heart (Matthew 15:18-19). Let us guard our hearts diligently, for “out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

The final section of this passage addresses injuries caused by or to animals. Three principles emerge here. First, human life has paramount value (Genesis 9:5-6). An ox was put to death if it killed a person, but not if it killed another ox.

Second, knowledge brings responsibility. An ox known to be dangerous was to be restrained, otherwise the owner was accountable for all resulting harm. If an animal fell into an open pit, the one responsible for the pit was held accountable.

Third, the law upholds and regulates the right to compensation. The principle of “life for life, eye for eye” sets limits on retribution, ensuring proportional justice rather than wild revenge. This divine restriction reflects His mercy in the midst of justice, ensuring that the rights of the accused are honored, and even the guilty retain their dignity.

These laws reveal the justice and mercy of God working hand in hand. They show how seriously He views human life and ordains its protection. Murder remains a grave offense against God and humanity. It is a work of the flesh, denies the murderer any inheritance in the kingdom of God, and defiles the heart. Revelation 21:8 warns that murderers, among others, will face eternal separation from God.

Let us align our hearts with God’s view of life. Let us honour human life as He does, recognizing in every person the image of the Creator. This will compel us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). It challenges us to live responsibly, not to destroy life but to preserve and protect it.

The small rescues accomplished by the boy on the beach reflect the truth that before God, every life matters. In a world overwhelmed by suffering and loss, we may feel powerless to make a difference. Let us follow God’s example, doing what we can to recognize the value of each life to bring hope and restoration to those around us. Let us make a difference—one life at a time. Let us be faithful stewards of the life He has entrusted to us, honoring Him in the value we see in the lives of others. God bless.