Two Laws

While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, "Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him." The old man stepped outside to talk to them. "No, my brothers, don't do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful. Here, take my virgin daughter and this man's concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don't do such a shameful thing to this man." But they wouldn't listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go. At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light. When her husband opened the door to leave, there lay his concubine with her hands on the threshold. He said, "Get up! Let's go!" But there was no answer. So he put her body on his donkey and took her home. (Judges 19:22-28 NLT)

I shutter every time I read this story.  It just sickens me to remember how horrible people really can be.  Perhaps the thing that strikes me the worst, though, is context in which this took place.  Maybe this story sounds familiar to you because you know your Bible stories.  You may even be able to pull out the names, Sodom and Gomorrah.  This sounds just like that story, doesn't it.  But look at the reference at the end of the passage.  It doesn't match.  The story of Sodom and Gomorrah took place in Genesis 19...right before God destroyed the whole area with fire.

This story took place in Israel.  God's chosen people did this.  They were supposed to be set apart as Holy.  They were given His Law.  They were being handed the Promised Land.  Now look at them.  They're all acting worse than the people who were destroyed by fire for their evil deeds.

It's been awhile, now, since I first discovered the difference between God's Law and the law of our land.  There are many significant differences.  I can live as a good citizen and never break any laws of my country, state, or locality and still be living in rebellion against God.  Just because the law of the land says it's ok to do something, doesn't mean it's really alright to do.  

There may be two laws, but there's only one God.  Follow Him and you have no worries of becoming like Sodom, Gomorrah, or God's Chosen People who have fallen far, far, far from His Grace.