An Eye For An Eye

Bible Translators often find themselves in a quandary. Somewhere back in my childhood movies I recall a hate filled cowboy twisting up his face and demanding “an eye for an eye.” Viewers all realized he was demanding more. He was demanding total destruction. Hate came though his body language. He had become evil to avenge evil. There was no end to his evil. Of course, the cowboy thought he was calling upon the highest authority – The Bible. Was he correct?

Well..... Leviticus 24:19-21 may apply. And, Exodus 21:22-25 possible applies also. Oh, and also Deuteronomy 19:21. But, what do these say and how do you translate it if you don't understand it yourself? All three seem to demand retribution.... “an eye for an eye,” “ a tooth for a tooth.” Phrases I have heard all my life.

During Old Testament classes at Johnson Bible College, I suddenly understood. In Latin this is called the law of lex talionis. Punishment, then and now, often far exceeds the crime. In the developing world cultures today it is not just about retribution, but also about mercy. In other words, the punishment should not exceed the crime. Lex talionis defines and limits - retribution.

Wow... how can I explain lex talionis when I too frequently find myself wanting to shout, “....its' just not fair.... you hurt me.... I want to strike back... hard....very hard......??!!

Please give us wisdom Father...!

Blessings...?

How many times have you said, "Blessings..?" In the ancient Near East  it was inherently understood that the one doing the blessing was superior to the one being blessed. Since the name and power of God was used,  a blessing could not be retracted - even if bestowed by deceit. Isaac, tricked by Jacob, mistakenly pronounced the blessing reserved for the firstborn son Esau, upon - Jacob the younger son. Isaac then could not reverse the action in order to bless Esau, his firstborn (Genesis 27:27-40).

I have often pondered my closing phrases ending letters and emails. What right have I to bless anyone? Like Paul, I feel "...chief among sinners.." (I Timothy 1:15).  Yet, I sing and pray aloud  "blessings to God." Is this folly that I,  a mere mortal,  should presume to bless my maker?

Last night, as I contemplated the beautiful moon over Texas, a sort of vague, yet somehow familiar, reality again came over me. There exists no condition within which I can truly understand He who is outside of time and presence. He who creates is beyond creation - yet totally within my heart. My  "blessings to God"  are my form of   "praise"   which actually is all I can rightfully give......

A hush fell over the room

 Just as we usually do each day, Pioneer Bible Translator's home office gathered for prayer at 9 A.M. Today however, was special; we all recognized the fact. A hush fell over the room. Jeff slowly opened the loose leaf three ring binder on his lap. It was hard to hold back the tears as he began to read.... His own emotions, well, they showed as he had trouble getting started reading.

Jeff, Laura, and the children, have spent years in West Africa among the Toma Tribes. Jeff began reading aloud in the Toma Tongue. Jeff was reading aloud from the Bible. Jeff read aloud from the Bible - which the Toma can now read and hear in their own tongue.. in their own heart language...!

We all sat in awe as the Twenty-third Psalm flowed from Jeff's lips in Toma. We prayed. We praised. We shed some tears of joy. We honored Jeff's family. We honored God. We prayed God would accept this work as his worship. All PBT supporters out there are part of this. Today, pray in praise. Pray in joy. Pray in thanks. Pray in wonder. Pray in Worship....!

The Uncommon Sandal

Pioneer Bible Translator's missionaries walking into our home seem to invariably remove their shoes. Many wear some form of sandals. I took time to review sandals in the Bible culture. Though there is evidence of some shoe footwear in the Old Testament the sandal was the common footwear in the hot and dry areas. Sandals were so much a unique part of the wearer that sandal removal  could symbolically represent a change of ownership in buying and selling. This could even extend to the acquisition of a wife (Ruth 4:7-10).


I fondly remember childhood Sunday School classes. The phrase "Holy Ground" entered  my vocabulary in some long forgotten Sunday School lesson. Perhaps we studied Moses and the burning bush (Ex 3:5). It may have been Joshua, before the "Commander of the Lord's army" (Josh 5:15). Both Moses and Joshua were instructed to remove their sandals because they stood on "Holy Ground."

Today, when I enter a cathedral like church sanctuary something deep inside me chides my subconscious with a whispered, "Holy Ground." It may be like this for you also. Guests seem unable to stop themselves as they honor our home by removing their sandals. Alas, I seem unable to find a satisfactory sandal to remove when I enter a church building. I think Jesus understands my predicament. I also think the Holy Spirit intercedes.



"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."  (Romans 8:26) NIV