Restitution

Exodus 22:1 If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

vs 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox of a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.



This above is the Old Testament Law concerning thieves.
I once heard a preacher say that since the devil is a thief (John 10:10), we can appeal to God when the devil steals something from us that God, as our Judge, can bring justice to us and make the thief pay us back.

Granted, this teaching is from my time spent in the Faith Movement. I will be the first to acknowledge that there is A LOT WRONG with the faith movement. There are many excesses that do not in any way represent the heart of God.

However, during a time when I seemed to be losing a lot, God gave me a dream. While I tried to understand the dream, that teaching came to my remembrance. And I felt the okay to go with it and to ask for restitution in prayer.

It is a story I will tell you in the next post.
It worked for me.
Even if you don't believe in the principle, it wouldn't hurt to take it into your prayer room and ask God what He thinks of it.

An Example of Restoration/Restitution

I'm not the type that cries easily.
Now as I'm getting older, the tears come more easily. But when I was younger... no way.

Anyway, one time, over ten years ago while my husband still pastored, I sat bawling in the car. There was a couple in our church that had turned on me. Before that, I had felt God specifically tell me to take them under my wing and love them. And I did, not knowing what was in store for me.

Making a long story short, the husband of this couple had a negligent, abusive mother. And the wife's mother wasn't as bad, but was a trouble maker. All the bottled up anger they had towards their mothers they took out on me after the honeymoon of the relationship was over. They turned on me like I had never been turned on before. And I hurt. I grieved for the relationship because I opened my heart toward them and loved them with a deep and real love. My heart was broken.

As I sat in the car and bawled, I asked God why.

First thing I felt that I heard from Him was something like, "Are you sorry that you ever had a relationship with them?"

When I really searched my heart, my answer was, no. I still loved them and appreciated the good times we had before things went south. I was just upset that things went south and I wanted it back the way it used to be. So I told God that I wasn't sorry for the relationship.

His next question took me off guard. "What can I give to you that will make it up to you."

It took me so off guard that I didn't even know what to ask. I fumbled around a bit then asked God, "What should I ask for?"

"Ask Me for a house."

I started laughing. We needed a bigger house. The one we were in was two sizes too small for our family. So I asked for a bigger house.

In a few years, I had one. A good one through an unexpected inheritance.

As far as that couple was concerned, they did come around eventually.

I'm not sure, but part of me thinks that God wanted a situation where this couple could get their anger towards their mothers to the surface. He asked me to step in knowing that these two were boiling pots that needed to blow. And He could trust me to not retaliate or return abuse upon them. All I did was grieve over them, like a bereaved mother, and pray for them. And that's all He wanted from me. He would handle the rest.

And it wasn't a bad situation for me when it was all over. I got a house and the couple came back as friends.

God asked a favor. I obeyed. It blew up in my face. And He made it up to me.

Restoring Double

Zechariah 9:11 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
vs 12 Return to the stronghold (or Stronghold), O prisoners who have the hope (or prisoners OF hope); This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

In Joel we saw God's promise to restore all that was taken by every type of locust mentioned, whether stripping, gnawing, flying etc. God said He would give back to Israel all that was taken.

Here in Zechariah we see God talking, not just about restoring their freedom because of the blood of His covenant, but even beyond that. He's talking about restoring double.

Note in verse twelve the prophet calling the prisoners to the Stronghold, or place of safety. He calls them the prisoners who have a hope, or prisoners who, even though they have been/are captive, they are not without hope.

Not only do they have hope. But by the end of verse twelve they have a promise of double restoration. A promise from God will keep.

Where Have I Been This Time

I haven't been able to finish my short series on restoration because I've been busy. But in a good way.

My daughter was nominated to go to Washington to be part of the National Young Leaders Conference.

http://www.cylc.org/NYLC

It was hard work getting her ready and hard to watch an air plane whisk her away to Washington D.C. But she had an awesome time and learned a lot. But most important, she learned about being a leader, something I want for all my children.

So I apologize for being absent. But thanks for being understanding the needs of my family and my dedication to helping my children achieve success.