Three scenarios are discussed here. First, if two men are fighting and one of their wives grabs her husband’s enemy by the genitals, she would have her hand cut off. Second, you should have honest weights in your scale bag, because cheating on weights is dishonest and an abomination before God. Third, they were instructed to remember what the Amalekites did to them, attacking them when they were tired and killing their stragglers. When they defeat all the nations within Canaan, they should go back and wipe the Amalekites from the earth.
These thoughts revolve around conflict. First, a woman should be careful when she gets involved in a skirmish, even if it is to defend her husband. Things that are wrong are still wrong no matter what the situation. Touching another man in a sexual way is wrong and unbecoming for a woman. In today’s society, we do not see this activity as being worthy of amputation, but it does send a strong message. Second, conflict over business dealings can lead to oppression and financial depravity. Keeping honest weights helps one deal rightly with his fellow man. Third, the Amalekites created conflict with the Israelites, and God gave them the task of retaliating.
While the way that the Israelites dealt with conflict is much different than how we deal with conflict today, the principles are still clear. Conflict is to be handled with care. When humans relate to one another, they must do so with the utmost decorum and ethics, or damage may occur. Keep God first and others second. Keep self last and you will succeed…God’s way.
Devoted To You 