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 “And
if an ox gore a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be surely
stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the
ox shall be quit. But if the ox was wont to gore in time past,
and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it
in, but it hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned,
and its owner also shall be put to death.” (Ex. 21: 28-29)
The
Old Testament “OX Law” emph- asizes the responsibility of
those who own, promote or control that which has great
potential. The danger in that which is powerful is not a valid
argument against growth, but we have a responsibility to others
to control that power. Should our ox inadvertently gore, “the
ox shall be stoned.” but we are free. We must take no profit
(flesh) from that proven evil.
But
some things show a tendency to go astray — their history is a
record of bloody warnings; and “when it hath been testified”
that our pet ox “was wont to gore.” what then? Shall we
ridicule him who warns as a “self-appointed watchman” “lacking
in love”?
There
are poorly informed, over-zealous watchmen, but there are far
more willfully ignorant people. History may be abused and
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the fallacy of generalization may lead
us to false conclusions; but he is foolish indeed who ignores
the records. In the absence of fore-sight, we must use all
available “hind-sight” to profit.”
Why
would anyone, made aware of a proven danger, fail to curb this
ox? Two most obvious reasons are selfish pride and indifference
to others. One may contend “the end justifies the
means,” but his plea is smothered in the decree of divine
justice. While he boasts of the “good” done, the Lord is
looking at the remains of his neighbor, impaled upon the cruel
horn of his instrument for doing. (Rom. 3:8)
“The
ox shall be stoned AND ITS OWNER ALSO SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH.”
God
shall destroy the instrument for wrong-doing, but He will not
stop there. God shall not hold guiltless those who ignore valid
warnings, and promote, encourage and profit by that which “was
wont to gore.” Brother, have you an ox that needs corralling?
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