The Value of God's Name is More Valuable than Any Other Name
At the end of Leviticus 24 is a curious story about a boy who blasphemes the name of God.
Leviticus 24:10–12 (ESV) Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11 and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.
Why is this here? And how does it relate to the passage to come about the legal system God enacts called, "lex talionis" or "eye for an eye"?
The first thing this passage reveals is more information as to Israel's relationship with Egypt. We have a mixed marriage. An Egyptian man took a Hebrew slave as his wife and produced offspring. Then perhaps that man left Egypt with the Israelites out of fear of the Lord? We cannot say for sure.
We also see hesitancy to carry out the death penalty for the crime of blasphemy of this man's son. Surely the people knew what this called for. God's name was to be hallowed above all. God's name was already glorified through His mighty acts before Egypt and on behalf of Israel.
But perhaps, the hesitancy here is revealing something deeper regarding Israel's own self-perception. After all, they were the rescued slave nation to Egypt's superpower. One can't help wondering if Israel still felt a bit self conscious. They had not the glory and notoriety of Egypt. They had no majestic pageantry or pyramids. They did not have royal family or legacy. Their victories were only those few miraculous provisions of a God they could not see. I imagine here that Israel, though saved from Egypt, still mindfully dwelt in her shadow and felt intensely inferior.
Perhaps that is the reason for their hesitancy to enact the death penalty when the name of God is blasphemed among them by a mixed breed Egyptian. In the ancient world, the father's was the only lineage that mattered. To Israel, this boy represented a more glamorous and powerful nation still held in high esteem even though now vanquished. What we see in verse 12 is nothing more than Israel still regarding Egypt's glory as higher than the glory of God's name. And this will not do for God's holy people.
Leviticus 24:13–16 (ESV) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
Leviticus 24:10–12 (ESV) Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11 and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.
Why is this here? And how does it relate to the passage to come about the legal system God enacts called, "lex talionis" or "eye for an eye"?
The first thing this passage reveals is more information as to Israel's relationship with Egypt. We have a mixed marriage. An Egyptian man took a Hebrew slave as his wife and produced offspring. Then perhaps that man left Egypt with the Israelites out of fear of the Lord? We cannot say for sure.
We also see hesitancy to carry out the death penalty for the crime of blasphemy of this man's son. Surely the people knew what this called for. God's name was to be hallowed above all. God's name was already glorified through His mighty acts before Egypt and on behalf of Israel.
But perhaps, the hesitancy here is revealing something deeper regarding Israel's own self-perception. After all, they were the rescued slave nation to Egypt's superpower. One can't help wondering if Israel still felt a bit self conscious. They had not the glory and notoriety of Egypt. They had no majestic pageantry or pyramids. They did not have royal family or legacy. Their victories were only those few miraculous provisions of a God they could not see. I imagine here that Israel, though saved from Egypt, still mindfully dwelt in her shadow and felt intensely inferior.
Perhaps that is the reason for their hesitancy to enact the death penalty when the name of God is blasphemed among them by a mixed breed Egyptian. In the ancient world, the father's was the only lineage that mattered. To Israel, this boy represented a more glamorous and powerful nation still held in high esteem even though now vanquished. What we see in verse 12 is nothing more than Israel still regarding Egypt's glory as higher than the glory of God's name. And this will not do for God's holy people.
Leviticus 24:13–16 (ESV) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
Notice the statements God makes. There is to be no partiality toward anyone in this new community. To be part of Israel is to be held accountable to Israel's laws and the value of Israel's God equally. They are to put this man to death regardless of his heritage. And in doing so, Israel is to learn that no other name is to revered as much as the name of their God.
Leviticus 24:22–23 (ESV) You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God.” 23 So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
What a lesson for us!
Who do you fear more than God? Who's reputation carries more weight than the reputation of the God who made the heavens and the Earth? It must be NO other name in the mind and heart of God's people that gets their value and worship.
Philippians 2:9 (ESV) God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Notice that after this moment God enacts the "eye for an eye" principle. What is this teaching us?
When we value the name of our God, the reputation of our God and the glory of our God more than any other name, reputation or glory is when true righteousness and justice can flow like a river. For we will execute the right measure of justice and hold all people accountable to the same standard and true equality can be experienced. When God is most glorified, we are free to treat all people the same for we will not look to them for any thing that God alone can bring. And THAT is good for community.
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