My eyebrows were raised over and over again as I read today's reading. From the stoning death of a rebellious son to man who refuses to marry his brother's widow, I was bewildered. How about you?
Many of the regulations seem extreme to me. But as we have all agreed before, God's ways are not our ways. We are in the 21st century, living a life that is very far removed from the life and times of the Israelites. God saw what we can not see. His laws and regulations were designed to help the Israelites live a better life, the life He had promised them.
I often wonder at times what others think of some of things the Lord requires of me. Are they extreme? To some maybe. To me, perhaps at times, however, if the Lord says do it I know I must do it. The Lord has a plan for my life just as He did the Israelites. He requires of me things that may seem extreme to others but are designed to help me live a better life, the life He promised me.
I don't have an explanation for the extreme regulations we read about. Our God is not to be explained and needs not to be defended. I can say our God can be trusted, this I know. From this generation to the next and beyond, His plan is to offer a plan of great hope and prosperity to all His children even if it does not make sense to those around us.
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:10- The Message)
I don't have an explanation for the extreme regulations we read about. Our God is not to be explained and needs not to be defended. I can say our God can be trusted, this I know. From this generation to the next and beyond, His plan is to offer a plan of great hope and prosperity to all His children even if it does not make sense to those around us.
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Good Morning,
Today's readings really made me stop and think about God being "all knowing". We know He is all knowing, but here was some evidence for me. I looked at all the detail of every situation and "What If" that could be used as a rebuttal and He's got it covered. There is nothing even in this time and age that God did not foresee. There will never be a situation that God looks upon us and says, "Gee I didn't see that one coming".
I agree Wendy, living in this century and looking back to that time does make the regulations seem extreme. But he wants the very best for us. John 10:10 is one of my very favorite scriptures.
Thanks!
Lynn - OR
Certainly were a lot of 'extremes' today - YIKES!
I so enjoyed the command to the newly married man - freedom to spend a year at home "bringing happiness to the wife he has married" :o)
Twice in todays reading the Lord called the Israelites to remember that they were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord had redeemed them. He is our Deliverer, Restorer, Savior and Redeemer.
I've been trying to research the "never give more than forty lashes; more than forty lashes would publicly humiliate your neighbor" verse, Deut.25:3. I was sure I heard someone explain once that Christ received 41 lashes for this very reason...so Jesus would be publically humiliated. The Jews would only permit 40 lashes, so they never did more than 39 so they wouldn't break the law if they miscounted. The Romans, however, were unhindered. They could lash as many times as they wanted. So, when the Romans whipped a Jew, they struck 41 or more lashes out of spite to the Jews. So I heard teaching that Jesus probably suffered at least 41 lashes to publically humiliate Him. Has anyone else heard this?
The verse that I "camped on" today was Deut 23:5, "He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you". That reminded me of Joseph saying, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Gen.50:20.
When situations look despairing, remember that God is in control. He can turn a "curse" into a "blessing".
To see my blessing of yesterday, visit my "Ponderings" blog. God is answering prayer. Thank you all for praying. Keep it up. We are seeing His Hand.
Blessings,
Joy
Good day all,
I had a lot of question marks in my Bible today. I have one at the stoning of the rebellious son, and two in the section of the husband accusing the wife of not being a virgin when he married her. I went to the Blue Letter Bible-Commentaries site and read these two entries (by David Guzik): his entry on Deut. 21: 18-21, and on Deut. 22:13-21. They are too long to post here, but here is the link.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_author.cfm?AuthorID=2
In essence, regarding the son, the law was in place to make the authority of the parents stronger, and to protect the social order of ancient Israel.
“Yet the Jews say this law was never put into practice, and therefore it might be made for terror and prevention, and to render the authority of parents more sacred and powerful.” (Poole)
I also was struck by Deut. 21:22-23; If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
The footnote referenced Galatians 3:13; Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)
So in addition to Joy's example with 41 lashes, Christ also "became a curse for us" by hanging on a tree and freeing us from the shame and punishment we deserved, and not He. I also noted that Christ's followers obeyed the law, and did not let Him hang there over night, but took His body down and buried it the same day.
What a rich reading today! Full of challenges for our understanding! Thank you all and have a blessed day!
Karen, CA
I had to pop over and check on your Father, Joy...those pictures were precious!!! Thank you so much for sharing and allowing all of us to see the Glory of God at work! A picture says it all! Still praying!
Well, I will say...the Bible is a page turner, isn't it dear sisters? Not only were my brows raised, but my mouth was wide open! I am so glad we don't have to know all the answers, or have it all figured out. We know that God knows! God knows what we don't and that is fine with me; and like Lynn said, "He's got it covered."
Different things stuck out to me...
*don't ignore your responsibility
*do not look the other way
*help your neighbor
*never take advantage of the poor
*leave some for the foreigners,orphans, and widows
Today, many people feel that it is "every man for himself." God never taught this "selfish principle" in the Word, did he?
As Christians, we have many opportunities to help others and also to model behavior, in hopes that they may see our "light shining" and want what we have. Only through the Spirit living in us are we able to be Christ-like. Reading The Word, makes us aware of what God wants and increases our desire to be "less centered."
The tassels on the hem came up again. I reread Numbers 15:37-41.
The Israelites had these visual reminders to look at daily...We have God's Word to read daily.
Love you all,
Lori - Mesa, AZ
Such great posts from you ladies.
Joy Pictures were great.
Lori You are so right every man for himself, I see it way too often.
Thanks for additional insight
Lynn
Good Afternoon Ladies,
Wendy, I too am taken back with the harshness of the regulations in the readings. Given my life and where I am at the part that stood out to me is in Deuteronomy 23: 24
“Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her; he writes her a letter of divorce hands it to her; and sends her away from his house. When she leaves his house, she is free to marry another man.”
I can not let my mind go to the very thought of another man, but this is what I have always heard: *if you both are Christians and divorce, neither may remarry because it is adultery. I find conflict and the scripture that I have found it’s that clear right now. Does someone have clearer eyes on this?
On the other regulations, I am in the agreement as well. We live in a different time. I asked a Christian the other day about something they were doing they knew was wrong. I asked what their reasoning for it was. They said “God has already forgiven me for it, so I don’t need to be worried”. Looking back it helped shed some light on why God had to be so harsh with the rules.
I am so excited our Proverbs Gather and Grow Group is meeting tonight. Looking forward to spending some time with the ladies and hearing what God has been doing with them.
Blessings to all,
Diane
Joy, thanks for sharing on the 40 lashes. I've heard reference to it, but not that Jesus was deliberately humilated beyond the 40 lashes in relation to Jewish custom. A good time of reflection as Good Friday approaches.
Such good insight from you all...Your comments are giving me more to ponder about...
I think about all those lashings Jesus had to endure for us! Oh, the pain he went through on the cross. Our sins being washed away is overwhelming...
Diane,
I read in the King James Version and it said:
24:2 "And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife." To me this says a woman is free to remarry. People can tend to get legalistic on this viewpoint...Seems like when we walk with God, and we seek His advice, and we ask Him, "What is Your will for me today, Lord?"...If we are walking with God, He will whisper to us what he wants us to do...He will open up the doors for us and lead us in the right direction. I think He delights in us going to Him for everything...and not worrying about what the next person may be doing. He commands each one of us different things...He has each one of our interest's at His heart.
You are His daughter and He has plans for you sweet sister, all in His time!
Blessings all,
Lori - Mesa, AZ
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