The Egyptian Husband

Leviticus: 24:10-16

Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the sons of Israel; and the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel struggled with each other in the camp. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) They put him in custody so that the command of the LORD might be made clear to them. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Bring the one who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then let all the congregation stone him. "You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin.
'Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

Commentary:
A mother by the name of Shelomith, who was an Israelite that had an Egyptian husband; had a son who was extremely verbal. One day in the Israelite camp, the son and an Israelite got into an altercation. The son begin to blaspheme the name of God, and curse. There were other people that were present, and witnessed the event. The son was brought to Moses, and put into custody; until the will of God was known on how to handle the actions of the son. The answer that came would be an example to those in the camp on respecting God for who He was, which is Holy. The son was then taken out of the camp, and all that witnessed his disrespectful words and attitude, stoned him to death.

Reflection:
What can be learned from this example, is that God is never to be disrespected by those in the camp, or from those that are not in the camp (Leviticus 24:16). God refused to have anyone disrepect His name, or His person. The result of such a state of disgrace was death by stoning. Just image how the mother felt when her son was stoned to death because of his words and actions; and how the father must have also felt. Regardless, of their emotional state, God would not be disrespected. The son possibly knew better; but the influence of his earthly father who was an Egyptian, may have had a stronger influence on his behavior. Possibly, he heard his father disrespect God in the house in which he was raised; and he felt as if he could do the same thing; and get away with it. Therefore, when an altercation brought out what had already been depositing in him, he was stoned to death for the condition of his heart.

God is Holy, and He should never be disrepected by those that know Him, or those who do not know him. When God is disrespected, a curse is brought upon the one in whom disrespects Him. God is our Father, and His authority should never be taken lightly, or held in contempt. When we disrespect our earthly parents, we inturn disrespect God, because He is the one that gave them authority over us, when he commanded us to obey our parents in the Lord. 

Food for thought:

• How do we show our parents respect today?
• What are we allowing to be deposited with us?

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for giving me a divine respect for your name and your authority in my life; which tends to a blessed life, verses the curse of death. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions: Leviticus 24:16

Blasphemed: 5344
1) to pierce, perforate, bore, appoint

a) (Qal)
1) to pierce, bore
2) to prick off, designate
b) (Niphal) to be pricked off, be designated, be specified
2) (Qal) to curse, blaspheme

of the LORD, and cursed:7043
1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light

a) (Qal)
1) to be slight, be abated (of water)
2) to be swift
3) to be trifling, be of little account
b) (Niphal)
1) to be swift, show oneself swift
2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant
3) to be lightly esteemed
c) (Piel)
1) to make despicable
2) to curse
d) (Pual) to be cursed
e) (Hiphil)
1) to make light, lighten
2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour
f) (Pilpel)
1) to shake
2) to whet
g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Law of Moses - Leviticus 24 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 18 Feb 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Lev&c=24&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2010). An Egyptian Husband. Devotions For Thought. Higgins Publishing, Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com