We are in chapter twenty-two of Exodus with our word for today. יָנָה be violent, oppress, suppress, wrong, treat unjustly, do wrong to, maltreat. It is used 19 times in the Old Testament. We find our word used in the sense to treat unjustly that is do wrong. An example would be in business transactions. Leviticus 25:14 If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not תּוֹנ֖וּ take advantage of each other. God also applies this to anyone who would be easy to take advantage of because of their vulnerable situation like a foreigner, orphans, widows, and the poor. Deuteronomy 23:16 If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not תּוֹנֶֽנּוּ oppress them. Jeremiah 22:3 This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no תֹּנוּ֙ wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and הוֹנ֔וּ mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 22:21 You shall not תוֹנֶ֖ה wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Did you catch the reason God gives for not behaving this way? Because the people were in Egypt where they were wronged by them. They were oppressed in their slavery to Egypt so they should not act that way to others who are currently sojourners. God gives another reason for not wronging others you should respect God enough not to do such a thing. Leviticus 25:17 Do not תוֹנוּ֙ take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God. Did you catch that phrase right after you should fear your God he then says for I am the LORD your God. He pulled out his YHWH name meaning reality. I’m reality I do whatever I please so I should be respected because what I do becomes reality. There is no one like the reality God who deserves ultimate respect and fear. When we wrong others we forget that everyone is in a vulnerable situation in that we are all totally dependent on God for life and well-being. The fact that we are alive and have what we need says that God is being gracious to us. We need to be the same with others who find themselves in a vulnerable situation. I’ll close with the picture Jesus gave of what this looks like to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Good Samaritan was the one who showed the person mercy in their vulnerable state. This is what it looks like. Luke 10:33-35 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

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