May 14, 2020
Reading the book of Deuteronomy can be like watching a game of Rubgy. It looks vaguely familiar but then, all of the sudden, you find yourself asking, “What in the world just happened? “This isn’t football!” you shout. “There’s no rules! It all makes no sense!” And in Deuteronomy 21:10-14, you’re going to find yourself questioning what Moses has to say to the people of Israel. He gives them some counsel that appears to contradict the expressed will of God as found in His law. Moses seems to be giving them permission to take wives from among the pagan nations they conquer. Something God has clearly forbidden them to do. So, what’s going on? Is Moses outlining the rules for a different kind of game than the one we’ve been watching? No, as we’ll see, God is consistent but He is also considerate, always taking into account the propensity of His people to give in to temptation.