Cover to Cover questions from Numbers Part 2

 At our church we have begun a 42 week series where we will be doing an over-view of all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation!  Throughout these 42 weeks we are encouraging the people at Bethel to follow the Bible reading plan which will bring us all through the whole Bible chronologically over the next 42 weeks!  Each week at Bethel the texts that we read during the week is what the sermon will be based on.  As a part of this series we are giving people opportunities to ask questions about what they are reading that they would like answered.  So every Thursday on this blog myself, alongside the elders, will seek to answer those questions the best we can!  So here we go for the questions we received on Genesis 1-11.  

Question #1:   "In Deuteronomy 21:18-21, is there an age limit applied to the punishment for rebellious children?  Say a child is very young?  or perhaps he is old and now head of his own household?  Is there an age limit on this punishment?"  (Answered by Elder Dave Graves).

By calling him “a glutton and a drunkard,” the text seems to imply an older son, perhaps independent of his parents’ household.  The purpose of this act, which we would certainly consider extreme, was to purge evil from Israel’s midst.  As one reads these sections, it is important to be aware of the types of laws God instituted in the Old Testament — civil, ceremonial and moral. The aforementioned verses are an example of civil law. Because of Jesus’ work, God’s relationship with Israel has been reconstructed. We are no longer under such civil laws. While the principal of purging evil from a family is still valid (i.e. such a son could be told he must leave the household because of his rebelliousness and influence on other siblings), the punishment prescribed in Deuteronomy is no longer valid.  The following website is helpful in explaining the types of OT laws: https://jdgreear.com/blog/why-dont-we-follow-all-of-the-old-testament-laws/ 

As we move through this series please keep the questions coming!  You can ask questions on the connect card attached to your bulletin on Sunday's, by emailing me at joshrobetson52@gmail.com

We certainly don't have all the answers and at times will not be sure how to answer but seek the one who grants wisdom to help us understand what we can.  At the end of the day it is not about having greater knowledge, or to simply know more stuff, it is to know more by which we can continue together to strive to Exalt God's Name, Equip God's People, and Evangelize God's World in our homes, communities, and world.