March 16: Deuteronomy 14-16

March 16, Deuteronomy 14-16

Deuteronomy 14 is in regards to clean and unclean foods - the Ceremonial Laws. In todays concepts, the Israelites were supposed to be set apart for God. Which, in this case, even their diet was to be different than their neighbors - they were God’s elect (or chosen by God to be His people). I also just wanted to touch base on the end of verse 21, don't cook a young goat in its mothers milk… Seems pretty strange doesn't it? The pagan neighbors would do this and it was supposed to have some magical meaning to it. God wanted His people to have nothing to do with this, especially since the milk was to nourish the young, not be used to kill them. 

Then Moses talks about tithing (or giving 10% to God) their crops. God wanted to teach them (and us) that we can trust God with everything and that we are to give to Him out of what He gives to us.

Deuteronomy 15. The Sabbatical Year. Every seventh year, the Israelites were to forgive the debts of their brothers and sisters. God knew that this was one way to help take care of each other and if they obeyed God’s commands that it would go well for them. If there was an Israelite in need - they were to open their hands to them and help them - with a happy heart, not begrudgingly. God will bless that. 

Then we transition into the Israelites (or Hebrews) owning other Hebrews… After six years, they are free to leave and they were commanded to take good care of them with severance and set them up for a good future. . But if they don't want to leave, because they loved being with them, they were to take an awl (metal pointed tool) and pierce the slaves ear. This revealed permanent ownership and loyalty. 

Deuteronomy 16 discusses the feasts and regulations with keeping them. We learned about these in detail back from Exodus 23. The Israelites were required to keep these so that the Israelites never forgot that where God has brought them.
There is a lot that could be said also about the commands to have no Asherah poles because God hates them. It was a Canaanite practice to have these poles set up so that they could worship their false gods there, make sacrifices and all sorts of nasty sins. God hates that...

To sum it all up:

• Do you believe that God will continue to give you what you need? Are you giving to God and trusting Him to provide what you need?
• Don’t bother throwing in a big offering if your heart is far from it. God loves a cheerful giver and blesses that. God isn't fooled - He knows our hearts and our motives. Why do you (if you do) give to God? What is your true motivation? Is it to see His Kingdom flourish and reveal your trust for him? I hope so. One thing that I learned, is that when the offering plate comes around or somebody needs something - give as the Lord directs your heart.