Deut 22:13-19

Hi.. this is my response to the person who tagged me..

Ok, yes, it says in the bible that someone who rapes a virgin should make restitution be marrying her and by paying her father some money.. however, this does not sanction the act of rape itself.. such an act of restitution doesnt mean that what the man did wasn't sin and neither does it mean that his act of restitution is enough to earn God's forgiveness for that sin... it doesnt mean that just because the man makes ammends by marrying the lady and paying a sum to her father that the Bible allows such behaviour.. neither can that act of restitution pay for what he has done...

First of all, the Bible makes it clear that the wages of sin is death.. God doesnt contradict himself.. if you look at the passage, a man found sleeping with a married woman is stoned and so is a man who violates a virgin pledged to be married... God doesnt contradict himself and neither does he set double standards.. they pay the price with their lives.. the reason why God allows the man who violates a virgin girl who is not pledged to be married to live is because of His grace and also for the sake of the virgin girl herself..

Unlike those who already have a husband or who are pledged to be married, after a virgin girl gets raped, she wouldnt have much of a chance finding anyone who would marry her.. and she would have to live the rest of her life with that status.. now let's look at the culture of the patriarchal societies in Bible times. if she doesnt marry for the rest of her life, it has socio-economic implications because the men handle the business transactions and her role in society would thus be undermined...

so to prevent the woman for suffering the rest of her life beecause she cannot find a husband, the rapist is then tasked with the responsibility for marrying her and caring for her so that at least she can get on with life and have some means to live by... such a law is therefore to help the rape victim and is in no way a license for the rapist to do what he wants..

Looking at culture, the Israelites then lived in an agricultural society.. that means that help in the field is important and should a member of the family like the daughter gets raped and married off to the rapist, the father is paid some money to alleviate the socio-economic implications of having one less person to work the land. It is not a form of compensation for the crime committed, neither it serves as a payment for the sin committed against God...

Finally, such a charge in God's commandments is meant to deter would-be rapists from commiting such an act, knowing that if caught, the responsibility that they would have to bear is for a lifetime so that they do not just go around and violate any woman as they please...

Basiically, nothing that the rapist could do would be enough to pay for his sins unless a sacrifice is made.. and that is representative of the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins.. cos what we have done deserves death and nothing we can do can ever attain God's righteous standards.. but Jesus has paid the price for us already by his death instead of ours on the cross.. so when we receive Him, we accept his sacrifice and receive forgiveness from God.. only what He did is enough cos no one was perfect enough to die in our place.. so He gave His life for us so that we may have life in Him...

hope this answers some of your questions... :)