We are in chapter seventeen of Exodus with our word for today. סָקַל stone, throw stones at, put to death by stoning. It is used 22 times in the Old Testament. Our word can be used of clearing stones so the land can be used for something beneficial. Isaiah 5:2 He dug it וַֽיְסַקְּלֵ֗הוּ and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines. The other 20 times our word is used in the sense to kill. We find our word used to put to death a dangerous animal. Exodus 21:28 When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be יִסָּקֵ֜ל stoned. We find our word used in an unjust way to murder another person. 1 Kings 21:10, 13-15 Worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth סֻקַּ֥ל has been stoned; he is dead.” As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth סֻקַּ֥ל had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” We see our word used in a just way to execute another person by an official government in the sense of capital punishment. Deuteronomy 13:10 You shall וּסְקַלְתּ֥וֹ stone him to death בָאֲבָנִ֖ים with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Deuteronomy 17:5 Then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall וּסְקַלְתָּ֥ם stone that man or woman to death בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים with stones.
Our word is also used when followers are extremely angry with their leaders. 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of לְסָקְל֔וֹ stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 17:3-4 The people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to וּסְקָלֻֽנִי stone me.” God acted so that Moses was not stoned to death by the very people he was serving as God’s leader. In the New Testament we find two people who were stoned for serving God. Acts 14:5-7, 19-20 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled...to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel…But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city. We’re not sure if God spared Paul’s life in a miraculous way or simply a natural way in that he didn’t die from the stoning. Earlier however God choses not to spare Stephen’s physical life. Acts 7:57-58 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. What is interesting is that even though God doesn’t spare Stephen’s physical life he uses it to make an impression on Saul’s life who was there helping the religious leaders kill him because of his teaching about Jesus. And not only that but earlier we see this beautiful picture of Stephen’s welcome into his heavenly home. I’ll close with this amazing vision that reminds us that what God has planned for us is so much better than anything here on this earth. Acts 7:55-56 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
