Thursday, June 25, 2009

Today's Passage: Deuteronomy 23-24

I know that at sometime I have read this passage. However, today was the first time that the end of chapter 24 stuck out so much. I think most of the time when we think about the Old Testament we think about history, great Bible heroes, and laws that do not apply to us anymore. This section proves, once again, that the Old Testament is so much more.

This section from verse 17 on shows the compassion that God wanted the Israelites to have, and in turn what He wants us to have. Whether it is in matters of justice or provisions this passage is clear that the Israelites are to look out for those who may not have someone else looking after them.

I think the three groups that are mentioned are very interesting. The alien, the fatherless, and the widow seem to be groups that do not really go together. It is very reasonable that the nation should look after those who do not have a father. If one is without a father, they are possibly without a family as well. A widow needing help was just as clear to me. A wife who had been provided for and protected by a husband for most of her life, and now is without that husband would need any food that she might be able to get. The one that did not make sense at first was the alien. But then I thought about what it is like to be in a foreign land. It is kind of scary not knowing anyone or not knowing how to communicate well with everyone. It makes perfect sense that they might need extra food during their travels.

I think this passage is important for us today as well. I think all of these groups translate today into groups that we should continue to look after. However, I think today there are more and more groups that we need to provide food or clothing for or even educate. My challenge for you today is to see where your extra grain is or the grapes that you did not need are and look for aliens, widows and the fatherless to share them with.