Deuteronomy 20-21 Hitting Home

God was giving specific instructions for the Israelites for a specific time for the nation.  They were entering the Promised Land, but once the land was taken, God would lead them to expand its borders.  The rules were different for cities in the Promised Land and cities outside the land that they would one day attack.  Inside the Promised Land, God had ordered the complete destruction of those people currently living there, for they had refused His repeated efforts to get them to repent and obey.

Also, the attacking Israelite army granted one-year deferments for potential soldiers who had special issues at home.  My commentary said God’s care for the family even above service in the army was at the heart of these exceptions.

Murder and sexual immorality defiles a land, and God even instituted procedures from removing this defilement when an innocent person was found murdered and no suspects could be found.  It was that important to remove the defilement!

Israelite men could not take Canaanite women as wives, especially as spoils of war, but God did issue instructions for men who would later fight battles outside of the Promised Land and take wives for themselves.  God was thinking that far ahead.

God also emphasized the importance of the first-born in inheritance law, regardless of whether the father loved another son more.

Perhaps the most compelling section for me was regarding sons who refused to obey.  They were so stubborn that they dishonored their parents and were constantly inebriated.  God directed parents to let the legal system take over and handle what they weren’t able to handle.  That is sound advice when the family system is unable to handle the willfulness of such a son.  It also leaves the parents free to be like the father of the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable – waiting and watching for his return once he realizes his own sin, offering grace, forgiveness, and love when none should be expected.  For that is what God has done for us.

Father, help me to be like You in this instance.  Despite how I feel about how I’ve been treated, help me to love and forgive and restore, just as You have done with me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford