LIFE SCRIPTS

15 “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death. 16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession. 17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.
Exodus 21:15‭-‬17 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.21.15-17.NIV.

Causing grievous bodily harm to someone is punishable before God. But a higher premium is attached to causing harm to one’s parents. But not only that, even if someone curses his parents, he is to be put to death. Perhaps this scripture unveils to us the importance parents have in God’s eyes. Verses before, God had issued the ten commandments instructing the Israelites to honor their father and mother. Now, the progression of regulations was making it even more evident that dishonour and disrespect of one’s parents won’t be tolerated. Unlike today, such a traditional society honored the elderly. But for our current generation, we have a long way to go. Instances of sons or daughters attacking or mistreating their parents are on the increase. Some elderly citizens are even neglected by their children some of whom are employed and living in the city. This is not God’s desire. We must seek to honor our parents and treat them well and not deliberately treat them badly. Infact malicious acts seemed to attract the death penalty so easily as illustrated by the rule against kidnapping. Kidnappers reduce human life to a commodity that could be trafficked or sold to the highest bidder. They completely destroy the dignity God has placed in us. It seems surprising how a law to curb kidnapping could be written among such a subsistent community. But it just reminds us of man’s depravity and his desire to go to lengths to fulfill selfish ambition. Kidnapping today might be associated with conspicuous criminal gangs engaged in racketeering. But it doesn’t have to. We can hold others ransom in different ways such as through blackmail. All these vices are frowned upon by God because that’s not the reason He created us for. He created us to have vibrant communities that impact each other and society.