THE WORD SIROCCO
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Month Theme: Restoration
Topic: The Fourfold Restoration
Scripture Reading: Exodus 22:1-10
Main Text:
Exodus 22:1
1 If 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.
The penalty for the theft of a sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labour; but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a double compensation was all that was required.
In Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus Christ, he pledged to restore fourfold that which he took from people by accusing them falsely (Luke 19:8).
We can try to find out why Zacchaeus restored four times instead of twice, what he took from people by false accusation – overcharged, cheated, defrauded. “False accusation” is comparable with the death of the owner or the animal that a thief stole – he must pay four or five times.
1. Death of the defrauded person.
Some of the people whom Zacchaeus defrauded might have been dead through death sentence like Naboth.
2. Deterioration of the defrauded person.
When you are accused of what you did not do, you may end up with sicknesses and lose other things. A defrauded person is as good as dead.
3. Death of the stolen animal.
The animals or things Zacchaeus took fraudulently from people might have been dead, sold or destroyed by the time he made his pledge.
You qualify for fourfold restoration because what you have is as good as dead. One could be alive, yet dead as in the case of the church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1).
Prayer: Pray for a fourfold restoration of all that has been stolen from you.
Recommended Reading:
"The Jubilee" by Eastwood Anaba
(Find e-books at www.amazon.com)
www.eastwoodanaba.com