Did you know that in Alabama it is illegal to make a person in church laugh by wearing a fake mustache on Sunday? In North Carolina, it is illegal for a bingo session to last more than five hours! This is a sample of laws that are technically still on the books, but no longer enforced.
Deuteronomy 22:1–12 contains a series of laws that may seem irrelevant to believers today. Are Christians supposed to obey these laws? If, as followers of Christ, we are not under the Mosaic Law, why are they still in the Bible? These laws reveal God’s character. They describe how God wanted Israel to live within their cultural context. They are authoritative to us as God’s revelation. They are a source of wisdom as we reflect on the values on which these laws were founded.
Some laws in this section were given to remind Israel that they were to be a separate and distinct people. They were not to wear clothing of two different kinds of cloth (v. 11) or plant fields with different kinds of seeds (v. 9). These are not moral issues, but they would be a physical reminder of Israel’s call to be holy.
Many laws describe how they should treat others. If you saw an ox or goat wandering, you were to care for it until its owner came looking for it (vv. 1–3). If you saw an animal that had fallen and the owner was struggling to help the animal back to its feet, you were to help (v. 4). There is even a law related to having compassion for wild birds (vv. 6–7).
Jesus summarized the Law in this way to His disciples: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).
What principles can we take from these laws regarding everyday life? How do they inform the way we treat others and relate to our community?
Though some laws in Deuteronomy seem not to apply to our modern life, You made them all work together, God, to grow a holy people for Yourself. May we see deeper into Your perfect Law, may Your commands give light to our eyes.
Recently, my wife learned that one of her high school classmates was murdered by the classmate’s husband. Even though she had not seen her classmate for years, the news was jarring. In our world, violence and disregard for human life is rampant. But it has been that way since the day Cain killed his brother. History is filled with a trail of blood (Genesis 4).
That is not the way it was meant to be. God places a high value on human life. Because humans embody the image of God, murder is an attack on God Himself. For the crime of murder, God instituted capital punishment (Gen. 9:6). Since there was no police force in Israel if a crime was committed, it was the job of the kinsman-redeemer—called here an “avenger of blood” (v. 6)—to investigate the crime and hold the guilty person accountable.
But what if a killing was accidental and the kinsman-redeemer was bent on revenge? (vv. 4–5). In this situation, God provided cities of refuge (vv. 2, 9). The elders of the cities would add a layer of protection to ensure justice. They could investigate to discern if the person committed intentional murder or unintentional manslaughter.
Passages like these remind us of two key truths. First, God places high value on human life. We are to treat others with dignity and respect and work to protect all life, especially those most vulnerable—the unborn, those suffering from mental or physical impairments, or the elderly. Second, God is deeply concerned for justice. The Law recognizes both the reality of human sin and the fact that a longing for justice can be warped into a thirst for revenge.
These realities should make us long for the return of the Lord Jesus and the coming of His kingdom when there will be no more “death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev. 21:4).
What two key truths can we take away from these readings about the punishment for murder?
Lord, today’s Scripture encourages us that, in view of all the sin and violence in ancient Israel, You established protection and justice. Thank You for watching over us and our world, too, and keeping us safe.
In our house, we have a fireproof lockbox in which we keep important documents. Some documents are important legally (e.g., birth certificates, marriage license, will). Others are important relationally (e.g., love letters, family pictures).
At Mount Sinai (called “Horeb” in this passage), God revealed His covenant with Israel, including the laws and decrees. The foundation of this covenant was the Ten Commandments (v. 13). These laws and decrees were important to Israel both legally and relationally. Israel’s most important and precious privilege was their relation- ship with God. Their faithfulness to God would be their source of success and flourishing in the land of Canaan. They would not take possession of the land because of their military might or skill, but because of their humble obedience to the Lord (v. 1).
When they faithfully obeyed the covenant, they would be different. Other nations would sit up and take notice: “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (v. 6). Their relationship with the Lord would be a witness to the world. The Law of God was a gift that set them apart. That is why it was vital for Israel to remember, obey, and pass on their knowledge of God from generation to generation. They were to “teach them to your children and to their children after them” (v. 9).
As followers of Jesus today, we also should be different. Not because of our own wisdom or intelligence, but because of our relationship with God. The apostle Peter reminded the church, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). That is why we should “live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).
How can our relationship with God be used to accomplish His mission to the world?
You revealed Your covenant to Israel and led them out of slavery in Egypt. We praise You today, Lord, for Your covenant of love and grace with us through Your Son—“out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
In Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (see Day 9), Christian and Faithful one day entered Vanity Fair, a place of many worldly temptations. Offended by their unwillingness to participate, the townspeople threw the pair into prison. They held a mock trial and condemned them to death. Although God allowed Christian to escape, Faithful was tortured and burned at the stake, entering heaven as an honored martyr.
Even when the price is high, we must obey God. Many Bible stories illustrate this principle, including Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac and Daniel in the lions’ den. Noah teaches us this lesson as well. His extreme obedience was rooted in his righteous character and godly lifestyle (v. 9). He lived in stark contrast to the world around him (vv. 11–12).
When God commanded him to build the Ark, Noah may have been tempted to disobey or at least obey halfheartedly. The task appeared ludicrous. The huge size of the boat was bad enough (vv. 14–16). The assertion that the whole earth would be flooded and all life would perish seemed absurd (v. 17). The idea that only Noah and his family, accompanied by pairs of animals, would survive seemed like delusions of grandeur (vv. 18–21). Nonetheless, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (v. 22).
How long did it take to build the Ark? Scholars suggest about 75 years, given the ages and births recorded in the genealogies. For example, Ham had not even been born yet when God gave this command to Noah. Over the years, there would have been many opportunities for Noah to leave the path of obedience, but he persisted in faith (Heb. 11:7). Through words and deeds, he preached a message of judgment and righteousness to the world around him (2 Peter 2:5).
What can we learn from Noah’s example of obedience? How are you cultivating this way of life?
Equip us, Lord God. Make us ready to follow and obey You no matter what. As we study today’s Bible passage, may we learn from Noah’s example how to face challenges, trusting You against all odds.
The book of Proverbs warns us to avoid pride: “Pride brings a person low” (29:23) and “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). These are serious warnings, but this one is the most grim: “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished” (16:5).
Ananias and Sapphira illustrate this truth. They were tempted to lie about the price of the land they had sold and thus the nature of their gift to the church. Why? Pride. They wanted to be praised for their generosity. They’d missed the point of the early church sharing resources and giving to those in need for the sake of the gospel (Acts 4:34–37). They’d also missed the point of giving as an act of worship to the Lord (Matt 6:1–4).
The two conspired to hold back some of the money and lie about it. Their sin was public and deliberate. Peter went so far as to say that Ananias’s heart was filled or controlled by Satan (5:3–4). The couple’s pride, dishonesty, and lack of generosity cost them their lives (vv. 5, 9). The early believers needed to learn that they were not playing a social game. The “great fear” that “seized the whole church” (vv. 5, 11) was a valid “fear of the Lord,” indicating a proper respect and reverence for His glory. Verse 11 is actually the first occurrence of ekklesia (“congregation” or “church”) in the Book of Acts.
We can try to fake generosity or worship, but God knows our hearts. When we are tempted to treat these matters lightly, the story of Ananias and Sapphira should warn us away from pride and toward proper humility before the Lord and others.
In this age of social media, posing and pretense are strong temptations. What are some practical ways we can combat this prideful desire to look good and receive praise? How can we be authentic?
Loving God, teach us how to follow You wholeheartedly, without hypocrisy. By Your Spirit draw us together, inflame us with a desire to do Your will, and to be Your faithful people in the name of Your Son, our Lord.
