HE WHO KINDLED THE FIRE SHALL SURELY MAKE RESTITUTION
Exo. 22:6 If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Thorns are part of a plant which can neither flower to feast our eyes nor bear fruits to sustain our lives. In fact, they are so weak that they cannot be used as pillars for structural support. They are almost good for nothing, except to be burnt. However, if the fire from the burning thorns spread and consume the grain of others, the person who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution!
Burning The Thorns
There are people who depend on grain farming in the field for their livelihood. If a person sets fire to clear his land for his own gain and damages the property of another by doing so, he must recompense the latter, even if the act is unintentional.
Perhaps “he who kindled the fire on the thorns” did it in good faith, because the thorns are, after all, useless. They are merely thorns occupying the ground and hindering the growth of crops. Thus, it would seem logical to burn them to the ground.
However, if burning the thorns will bring harm to other people’s crops, he must compensate for the loss of others. Thus, this tells us that regardless of any reasons to justify our actions, we must make restitution if we cause harm to others.
Matt 13: 29-30 29But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
The Bible verse above records the warning from the Lord Jesus Christ to the eager servants not simply to uproot the tares from the wheat.
Tares that grow among the wheat will hinder the growth of the wheat and should be uprooted. However, the roots of the tares and wheat are intertwined, making them hard to be separated by just uprooting the tares.
Eph. 4:1-3 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
These verses above beseech spiritual people to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Although there will be thorns among us, but for the sake of the elect, we should not take the risk to kindle a fire in the Lord's field according to our will.
We Are Like A Lily Among Thorns
Song. 2:2 The Beloved Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.
Eze. 2:6 "And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
Eph. 4:27, 30-32 27nor give place to the devil. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
Phil. 2:14-16 14Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or laboured in vain.
The Bible verses above record how believers are like a lily among thorns for having to face many persecutions and sufferings in the world. As such, we must be patient and remain steadfast in God’s teachings so that we may become the children of God who are without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
Thorns will remain as thorns forever and will never turn into lilies.
Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
Rom. 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
The Bible verses above warn us that if one decides to kindle a fire on the thorns, one must be cautious about the timing and technique used, lest he risks burning the lilies among them which will cause others to stumble.
God Will Repay You According To Your Ways
These thorns which ought to be destroyed will always exist in a family, an organisation, a country or anywhere in the world. But, in the course of burning them down, the person who kindled the fire might inadvertently destroy the livelihood of others.
If we take a step back and think over thoroughly, we will come to the realisation that all of us are constantly judged by the law established by God.
Eze. 7:9 'My eye will not spare, Nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, And your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.
Isa. 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.
Job 34:11 For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
Deu. 7:10 and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.
The Bible verses above record how God will judge each and every one of us.
Conclusion
We should not kindle the fire on the thorns or uproot the tares among the wheat which could potentially cause harm to others. On the contrary, let us hold fast to the words of God so that we may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault.
Rom. 2:7-11 7eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality; 8but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10but glory, honour, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God.
Rom. 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Rev. 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
2Cor. 10:18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
The Bible verses above record how God gives out judgment and rewards according to one’s work.
In conclusion, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jer. 17:10)
May all glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ, Hallelujah! Amen.
(The Holy Spirit Times – 1948 ACTS-2023-0102)