We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today. גָּנַב steal, take away by theft. It is used 40 times in the Old Testament. It is used in a figurative sense to endear someone to yourself. 2 Samuel 15:5-6 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, וַיְגַנֵּב֙ and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel. It is also used in a figurative way in the sense of being deceitful or stealing the truth. Genesis 31:20 Moreover, Jacob וַיִּגְנֹ֣בdeceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. It is used literally in the sense to take without the owner’s consent. God clearly defines our word as a sin. Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; גָּֽנְבוּ֙ they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. When this sin is committed restitution is to be paid to the one whose property was stolen. Exodus 22:1, 12 Whoever יִגְנֹֽב steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep…But if the animal was גָּנֹ֥ב יִגָּנֵ֖ב [literally to be stolen it was stolen this is for emphasis] stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner.
Exodus 20:15 You shall not תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב steal. We find the exact same wording in both Leviticus 19:11 and Deuteronomy 5:19. History has proven that this commandment is essential to the foundation of any nation because when people engage in it their nation crumbles. It definitely has an attraction to it that must be recognized and rejected. The Holy Spirit speaking through Solomon plainly points this out showing how the voice of lady folly leads many astray. Proverbs 9:16-18 To those who have no sense she says, גְּנוּבִ֥ים “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Our word also identifies the underlying attraction of wealth and its dangers. Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor וְגָנַ֑בְתִּי and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Did you see the connection between how wealth can affect our relationship with God negatively? Jesus spends almost a third of his teaching on worldly resources and warns us of the dangers that are there. He warns us against relying on money and the things money can buy because it can be used by the evil one to disconnect us from God. I’ll close with this great reminder from Jesus. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
