Refuses To Obey

Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him. In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders as they hold court at the town gate. The parents must say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his town must stone him to death. In this way, you will purge this evil from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid. Deuteronomy 21:18-21

THIS PASSAGE IS DIFFICULT for any loving parent to read without a shudder. So how are we to understand it?

As the Israelites prepared to move into Canaan, Moses instructed them on how to live there as God’s holy people. He also explained how they were to deal with issues that might threaten their security. He included the case of a family in which the firstborn son was proving unworthy of his inheritance and future family leadership. This was not a naughty young child or a rebellious teen, but an adult who lacked any character and persisted in vile behavior. If this was how he behaved now, what would he do with the family’s resources when he became head of the family?

When God gave his people the law, he promised a reward for honoring one’s parents: “Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). A foolish, wicked son would not be honoring his parents. So rather than experiencing the blessing of a long, full life, he would experience the curse of an early death —but only if both of his parents and the town elders agreed on this penalty.

While there is no record of anyone being executed under this law, this instruction still alarms and perhaps even embarrasses us because it doesn’t seem very godlike. But there is actually great hope in this dark scene. Centuries later, a firstborn Son who obeyed his Father perfectly would be put to death —not for his own stubborn rebellion, but for ours. He would experience the curse that all rebellious sons deserve so that we can experience the blessing of the long, full life that he deserved. He experienced the ultimate curse so that we can enjoy unending blessing.

Lord, we hardly know how to thank you for putting the punishment we deserve for our stubborn, rebellious ways on your own innocent Son so that we can experience a long life of blessing. Will you help us know how to encourage ________ toward this life of blessing, especially when ________ is stubborn, rebellious, and refuses to obey?