Jesus Restores All Things Lost

"1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep." (Exodus 22: 1)


In this verse, the word "restore" renders the Hebrew word "shalam", which is the base word for "shalom", or peace, wholeness, health, wealth, consummate peace.

Christ is our peace (Ephesians 2: 14), and in Christ we receive all things (Romans 8: 32; Ephesians 1: 3)

In fact, we can rest at ease in Christ, knowing that anything that was taken from us He will restore to us fivefold.

In order to emphasis his strength to restore all things, Exodus provides an interesting teaching:

"If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double." (Exodus 22: 4)

If the thief is caught, the victimized party only gets double, yet if the thief then kills the animal or sells it -- meaning, the thief gets away with the animal -- then the original owner gets five-fold for an ox, and fourfold for a sheep. An ox is worth more, and the original owner gets more.

What's going on here? This distinction magnifies God's grace through Christ in our lives, in stark contrast to the wisdom of the world:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)

and

"9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

And for this reason also, Paul would admonish the Corinthians:

"7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren." (1 Corinthians 6: 7-8)

Paul reminded them of their standing in Christ, that they are now the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 12-17), and that they would judge angels (1 Corinthians 6: 3)

Jesus does not want us to go about avenging ourselves for any loss. Rather than trying to hide or compensate for any loss, let us rest and receive, in fact keep receiving the gifts of righteousness and grace in Christ (Romans 5: 17), and the greater any loss which we have suffered, we can trust in God's love and both know and believe that He will make better for any good which we have lost! (Romans 8: 28)