Rules, Rules, Rules: Why We Love (and Sometimes Hate) Them
Reading through Exodus 22-24, I found myself thinking a lot about rules—how they function in a society and why humans seem to need them. These chapters contain an extensive set of laws, covering everything from property disputes to ethical treatment of others. Some seem intuitive—don’t steal, don’t exploit the vulnerable—while others reflect the specific culture and time period of the text. But beneath the details, a larger theme stood out: rules create order, and humans seem to crave security and predictability.
Structure or Chaos? The Choice is Ours
Every society depends on structure to function. Without a shared understanding of acceptable behavior, life becomes unpredictable. The laws in Exodus serve as a framework for justice and stability, outlining responsibilities, consequences, and expectations for daily life. In doing so, they provide clarity—people know what to expect from one another and how conflicts should be resolved.
No Rules, No Roadmaps
This is something that extends far beyond the world of ancient Israel. Laws, customs, and social norms exist in every civilization, shaping how people interact. Even today, modern legal systems create order by defining right and wrong, and by enforcing consequences when those lines are crossed. Without them, chaos and uncertainty would likely follow. Imagine a world with no agreed-upon traffic laws—where every driver made their own decisions about speed and direction. The result wouldn’t be freedom, but disorder and risk.
The Comfort of Knowing the Boundaries
Rules also provide a sense of personal security. When people understand the boundaries within a community, life feels more stable. This may have been especially important for the Israelites at this point in their history. After leaving Egypt, they were in a period of uncertainty, moving toward an unknown future. These laws may have offered a sense of stability at a time when their world felt unpredictable.
Why We Crave Structure in Our Lives
Beyond legal codes, this desire for order shows up in many ways. Humans naturally seek routines, patterns, and guidelines in their daily lives. We set personal expectations for ourselves, follow traditions, and create structures that help us feel in control. Predictability helps make life manageable.
When Rules Help—and When They Don’t
Of course, rules can be rigid or outdated, and they are often shaped by the priorities of those in power. Not every rule remains relevant over time, and not all are applied fairly. But at their core, rules help people live together, balancing individual freedom with the needs of the larger group.
The Big Questions
Reading Exodus 22-24, I found myself thinking less about the specifics of each law and more about why rules matter to people in general. What happens when structure is missing? How much order is necessary for a society to thrive? And at what point do rules become less about stability and more about control?