Sanctuary Ministries: An "eye for an eye", a "life for a life" & Abortion

Abortion and Exodus 21:22-25

“If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child
so that she gives birth prematurely,
yet there is no injury,
he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him,
and he shall pay as the judges decide.
But if there is any further injury,
then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,
eye for eye,
tooth for tooth,
hand for hand,
foot for foot,
burn for burn,
wound for wound,
bruise for bruise.”

~ Exodus 21:22-25

[*NOTE: In the King James Version & also ASV verse 22 says: “hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart”. The Hebrew word for the fruit/life in the mother's womb is: YELED. This word is elsewhere translated “child,” “boy,” “son,” or “young man.” It is the second-most-common Old Testament word for “child.” ]

Here is the situation: Two men are physically fighting and a pregnant woman somehow gets in the way of the brawl. One of the men accidentally strikes the pregnant woman. Perhaps the mother takes a blow to her abdomen or gets violently knocked down or something of that nature. This injury either causes the woman to go into premature labor or, if she is full term, perhaps she goes into full-term labor. Or, she may not deliver her baby for several months, but the infant may be found with some harm//defect/injury which they trace back to the accidental blow during the fisticuffs between the two men.If the baby is born prematurely, but there is no injury (to either child or mother), then the man is fined for the trouble he caused (v22). If there is injury to child or mother, then the man should receive the same kind of injury he caused, including “life for life” (vv 23-25). The Law of God is clear. If the baby is born dead or injured, the man should have inflicted on him the same harm he caused to the baby, even “life for life”! Anyone who was responsible for causing the death of that unborn baby should be punished the same as if he had murdered any other human being!

The precedent for this is set early on in scripture:

Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in His own image.
~ Genesis 9:6

A pre-born child's value is the same as the born child's life. We know this because the Word of God teaches us that our value is EXtrinsic, coming from OUTSIDE OURSELVES. Our being created in the image of Almighty God, who created us in His image and likeness. Our value is based on the value of God Himself!

So, if the penalty for killing a pre-born baby by accident is "eye for an eye" and "life for life", how much more would the degree of sin and degree of penalty be for someone who willfully, purposefully, premeditately sheds the blood of their innocent child in the womb? Surely the prophecy of God in Revelation 21:8 is true:

All murderers will have their part in the lake of fire!

The greatest authority for all matters of life and godliness is God Himself! He is the One who designs, creates, sustains and rules over every person, including the precious child in the womb. Each person is made by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26:Jeremiah 1:5:Psalm 139). May God use YOU to speak these truths in love to abortion-bound mothers, fathers and their companions, as well as those who work at the killing places. The commandment of the LORD is clear: "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER". Warn every man and woman to repent, urging them to confess and forsake their evil plan to murder their baby and to cast themselves of the mercy of Jesus Christ, who is mighty to save both from the penalty and the power of sin.

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone,
able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil,
after being captured by him to do his will.
~ II Timothy 2:24-26

Here are some other scriptures to ponder about human life in the womb:

They are “children” or “sons” in the womb – Genesis 25:21,22; 2 Kings 19:3; Ruth 1:11
A “male child” or “boy” is conceived – Job 3:3
It is an “infant” – Job 3:16
It’s a “baby” in the mother’s womb – Luke 1:41,44

For further study of the Exodus 21 passages see:
http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5700