Day 77

Read: Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19

All throughout today’s reading, God demonstrates that He cares about EVERY detail of life.

We start with regulations set for captive women. Men that wanted to take a wife from the captured people were required to respect the mourning period, this honors the woman’s humanity rather than treating her as property. Even if the man were to decided they were no longer compatible, the woman was still entitled to certain rights and retained her social status.

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
It’s important to know that polygamy is not the design God intended for marriage. If we look back at Genesis 4:19 Lamech, a descendant of Cain, is the first to break God’s pattern for marriage. Another interesting thing to keep in mind is at that time, there were two genealogical lines running parallel: Cain and Seth.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Disobedience in the home was not tolerated. Those not following the command from God in Deuteronomy 5:16 and Deuteronomy 6:6-9 would have to bring their child to the elders for judgement which would lead to the child’s death. The warning against rebellion was a deterrent as well as a strong incentive for parents to disciple their children in the law of God.

There is quite honestly so much to unpack from today’s reading. The deeper lesson though, is that these laws required the Israelites to look beyond their own convenience to care for others as seen in the following examples:

• helping a neighbor’s animal,
• building a parapet to prevent unintended harm,
• leaving food for the poor,
• etc.

Do you see the people around you and ways you can help them, or are you too focused on your own battles?

Even when culture permits selfishness, God calls us to hold higher standards of justice and kindness in our relationships, work, and finances.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that Your wisdom covers all aspects of my life. Help me to be thoughtful of others, to act justly, and to extend compassion to the vulnerable in my community. Thank You for caring for me in the details, just as you did for the captive woman and the stranger. Amen.