Tag Archives: Evil

A Silent Enemy: Sin in the Camp (Joshua 7)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 7

* This is the first of two devotionals for today.

With the fortress of Jericho defeated and destroyed, the men of Israel set their eyes on the next city, Ai. Joshua had reminded the people that the LORD had accursed all that was in Jericho, and the gold, silver, brass, and iron was sanctified and dedicated for the “treasury of the house of the LORD” (6:24, 26). Nevertheless, one man in Israel disregarded Joshua’s oath and foolishly took that which was accursed (7:1).

Joshua 7

A Concealed Sin in the Camp (7:1-2)

Joshua 7:1 reveals both the sin and the sinner, whose transgression was not discovered until thirty-six soldiers of Israel had perished in battle (7:5). We read of that tragic event: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1).

Who was Achan? We could assert he was nobody in the realm of two million citizens. However, he was a transgressor who committed a great sin against the LORD. Achan was a son of the tribe of Judah (7:1) and a father with sons and daughters (7:24). He was a man of possessions, for he owned ox, asses, and sheep (7:24). He was, however, a covetous man, and a thief (7:20-21).

Defeat at Ai (7:3-5)

Unlike the battle of Jericho, there is no record that Joshua consulted the LORD before he ordered men to attack Ai (7:2). He had sent out men to spy on Ai, and they returned and advised, “Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few” (7:3). Confident, and presumptuous, Joshua heeded the advice of his spies and sent a mere three thousand soldiers to war against Ai. As a result, Israel was defeated (7:4-5), and the nation was left confused and humiliated by the deaths of thirty-six warriors of Israel.

Joshua’s Remorse (7:6-9)

Distraught by the defeat, Joshua “rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD” (7:6). He was joined by “the elders of Israel,” and “they put dust upon their heads” as a sign of mourning (7:6). In dismay, Joshua cried to the LORD, “what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies?” (7:8) He appealed to the LORD to consider how Israel’s defeat would embolden their enemies. He feared the adversaries of Israel would encircle them and “cut off [their] name from the earth,” and he wondered, “What wilt thou do unto thy great name?” (7:9)

The LORD’S Rebuke and the Cause for Israel’s Defeat (7:10-14)

Sadly, Joshua’s cry to the LORD insinuated that somehow God had failed Israel. However, such was not the case, for He had promised Joshua, “Whithersoever thou goest” I will be with you (1:9).

The LORD then rebuked Joshua and said, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?” (7:10). He revealed that the cause for Israel’s defeat was not His unfaithfulness but the sin of one man that had troubled the whole nation (7:11-12). Therefore, the LORD warned, He would not bless the nation until the evil was put out of the camp (7:10-13).

The Discovery of Achan’s Sin (7:14-21)

The following day, Joshua made haste to begin searching out the sin in Israel and did as the LORD had commanded (7:14-16). It was revealed that the sin had been committed by a man of the tribe of Judah (7:16). When the tribe of Judah passed before Joshua, the “family of the Zarhites” was implicated (7:17). The Zarhites were examined, and the household of “Zabdi was taken, and [Joshua] brought [Zabdi’s] household man by man and; and Achan…was taken” (7:18).

Perhaps hoping his sin would go undetected, Achan held out until he was discovered. Then, when Joshua confronted and appealed for him to confess his sin (7:19), Achan answered, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done” (7:20).

Achan’s Confession (7:21)

Achan’s confession revealed the pattern of sin that men take when they sin against the LORD. First, he consideredthe opportunity to sin. He had looked “among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight” (7:21a). He then coveted them (7:21b). Achan then carriedthem to his tent (7:21c), and concealed them, hiding them “in the earth in the midst of [his] tent” (7:21).

The Effect of Achan’s Sin Upon His Household (7:22-26)

Joshua’s men searched and discovered all Achan had confessed, but no appeal would satisfy the LORD’S wrath. Because of Achan’s sin, thirty-six men had died in the defeat of Ai (7:4-5), and now the whole congregation passed judgment. Taking him, and all that he owned outside the camp, Israel stoned Achan to death, along with his sons and daughters and livestock (7:24).

All was destroyed, and the people “burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger” (7:25-26).

Closing thought:

Like many sinners, Achan only confessed his sin when it was discovered. He had the opportunity to repent, come forward, and confess his sin after Israel was defeated at Ai (thirty-six of his countrymen had perished, 7:5). Instead, his heart was hardened, and his confession was offered only after his sin was exposed. God’s people could not tolerate such evil in their midst, and the LORD bless them. The LORD had warned Joshua, “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you” (7:12).

When God’s people obey His Word, their most powerful enemies fall before them. However, we cannot overcome our weakest enemy when we conceal sin.

* Note – A second devotional will follow and be taken from Joshua 8 (the record of Israel’s victory over Ai following that nation’s judgment against Achan.) 

Questions to consider from Joshua 7:

1) Why was the LORD angry with Israel? (7:1)

2) Where did the men of Israel put their confidence? (7:3)

3) How did the defeat at AI affect Israel? (7:5)

4) What were Joshua’s concerns following Israel’s defeat? (7:8-9)

5) What sins did Achan confess that invited God’s judgment? (7:20-21)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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The Curse of a Dying Nation: Feminine Men and Rebellious Feminists (Deuteronomy 28)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 28

The sum of today’s Scripture reading is essentially two words: Blessings and Curses. Deuteronomy 27 concluded with the people affirming their understanding of God’s Covenant and agreeing to its blessings and penalties (27:15-26). Deuteronomy 28 continued the same proclamation, detailing the LORD’s promise of blessings if the people would obey His Laws and Commandments (28:1-14) and curses should they disobey (28:15-68).

The Rewards and Blessings of Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

The promise of blessings was conditional and would be fulfilled, but only if the people diligently listened to the Lord’s voice “to observe and to do all His commandments.” If the people would “hearken…observe…and do all His commandments,” the LORD promised He would “set [Israel] on high above all nations of the earth” (28:1). All would be blessed, both city and field (28:3), and would be fruitful and increase. Children would be born, cattle would calve, and the flocks of sheep would increase. The fields would give forth a great harvest (28:4-6).

Israel’s enemies would fall before them and be scattered (28:7). Her storehouses and treasuries would overflow (28:8-14).  The LORD promised He would open the treasury of heaven, send rain upon the land, and the world’s nations would become debtors to Israel (28:12). All this was promised if Israel obeyed the LORD’s Law, and His Commandments (28:13-14).

The Penalties of God’s Judgment for Disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

The balance of Deuteronomy 28 predicted the punishments that would befall Israel as a nation should the people turn from the LORD and disobey His Law and Commandments (28:15-68). In the same way, the LORD promised to bless the nation if the people obeyed Him; the opposite was true should they disobey Him. The curses are far too extensive for me to address individually; however, I invite you to observe their sum in today’s devotion.

Should Israel reject Him, the LORD warned He would abandon them to their enemies (28:45-47), and the people would become slaves to their enemies (this would come to pass during the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities and be repeated in the Roman era). Their enemies would eat the fruitfulness of their lands, trees, and storehouses. Their cattle and flocks would be destroyed (28:48-51).

Israel was warned that when their cities were besieged, the starving people would turn to cannibalism and eat “the flesh of [their] sons and of [their] daughters” (28:52-53).

Portrait of a Dying Nation: Effeminate Men and Embittered Women (28:54-57)

Their men became effeminate (“tender among you, and very delicate.” 28:54). Their women were no longer “tender and delicate” (28:56). The eyes of a wife would “be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter” (28:56). Leaving her natural affection, Moses warned a mother “shall eat [her children] for want of all things secretly in the siege” (28:57).

Because the people rejected the LORD and disobeyed His Law, He promised to bring upon the nation “great plagues…and sore sicknesses” (28:59). Israel would be overcome with plagues (28:58-60), and the births of the children would be few (28:62-63). Finally, the nation would be conquered, and the people scattered, oppressed, and enslaved (28:64-65).

Fear, dread, and depression would haunt the nation, and the people would dread the night and the dawn (28:66-67). Eventually, they would be taken from their land and “see it no more again…[and] be sold unto [their enemies]” as slaves (28:68). All that Moses warned is documented by the historian Josephus and came to pass in AD 70 when Titus, the Roman General, destroyed Jerusalem. Then, the Jews were scattered throughout the nations of the earth.

Closing thoughts:

Today’s Scripture reading reminded me that the pattern of decadence and decline foretold by Moses is seen in the nations of the world today. Such wickedness precludes the judgment of God upon those nations that reject Him. No nation can long reject God without experiencing moral decay and His judgment.

The trademark of God’s judgment is undeniable when I assess my country. I see the evidence of a nation that God has turned over to its enemies. The United States is an enslaved, debtor nation to our enemies. Our nation’s women have taken the lives of their unborn in grotesque abortions, as surely as if they cannibalize them from the womb (28:52-53). Effeminate men, “tender [and] delicate” (28:54), are celebrated, and rebellious women blight our society with an “evil eye” towards their husbands and children (28:56-57). We have experienced epidemics, a failing birthrate, a fear, and a dread of the future, as I have not witnessed in my lifetime.

The United States, like all nations, is doomed if we do not repent of our sins and turn to God.

Questions to consider:

1) What spiritual benefits would Israel gain if they obeyed the commandments of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

2) What curses would befall Israel if the people refused to heed and obey the commandments of the LORD? (Deuteronomy 28:15-24)

3) Rather than men of strength, how were the rebellious men of Israel described? (Deuteronomy 28:54)

4) What afflictions did Moses prophesy would befall a rebellious nation? (Deuteronomy 28:59-61)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Moral Dilemmas: Divorce, Debt, and Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24; Deuteronomy 25)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 24-25

Our Scripture reading continues with Moses setting forward various laws that would guide Israel in matters of marriage, family, societal civility, business, and government.

Deuteronomy 24

Principles Regarding Marriage and Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)

Divorce is addressed, sadly indicative of man’s sinful heart. We understand that God’s desire for man and wife is: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Yet, because man’s nature is bent away from God, the Lord allowed (through Moses) for a writing of divorcement when there was a valid reason.

Moses allowed for divorce in this passage; however, I remind you that was never God’s plan or will. What is the will of the LORD? The sum of God’s will for marriage is this: “A man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

The Pharisees questioned Christ on this subject and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife [divorce]for every cause?” (Matthew 19:3) The LORD answered, citing the “one flesh” principle and added, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).

Displeased with His answer, the Pharisees pressed Him, saying, “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” (Matthew 19:7). Christ answered and diagnosed the deplorable basis for Moses permitting divorce (Deuteronomy 24).

Matthew 19:8–9 – 8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered [allowed] you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

A Moral Guideline for the Borrower and Lender (Deuteronomy 24:6)

Taking an upper millstone is foreign to most until we understand Moses referred to the stones used to grind grain into flour. So, a lender was warned he could not take for a surety the “upper millstone,” for by it, a family could grind grain into flour and bake bread for the family.

A Solution to Human Trafficking (Deuteronomy 24:7)

One of the great abominations of the 21st century is human trafficking (in essence, modern slavery). Forcefully taking children, women, and men and subjecting them to the darkness of moral depravity has been and continues to be an appalling wickedness. In the words of the Scripture, anyone found guilty of “[making] merchandise…or selleth [selling] him” shall be put to death (24:7).

If the judgment of the Scriptures were practiced in our day, victims of human trafficking would receive justice and human traffickers would be dispatched to a swift judgment: “Thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deuteronomy 19:21).

Charitable Obligations (Deuteronomy 24:10-22)

Today’s false teachers and preachers have led many to believe the laws of the Old Testament were lacking in grace. They support their reason and boast that we live in an “Age of Grace.” Indeed, we do, but grace has been a part of every age because God is a part of every age. He has been and continues to be immutable – the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, characterizing the Law and Commandments as “graceless” suggests the LORD was graceless, which is heresy.

Deuteronomy 24:10-22 proved that God was sensitive and compassionate concerning the condition of the poor, the weak, the orphan, and the widow. For example, in ancient times, the poor often had nothing more than the “clothes on their backs.” Robes were the attire for those times, and men generally wore inner and outer robes. The inner robe afforded modesty, while the outer robe protected against the elements and provided warmth at night.

Should a man of little means borrow, his outer robe might serve as the surety or pledge for his debt (24:10-11). However, the lender was not to humiliate a debtor and take by force the robe of a poor man while he was in his house (24:10-11). Also, in the evening, the lender was to return the outer robe so that the man “may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee” (24:13).

Admonitions Against Injustices (Deuteronomy 24:14-18)

Day laborers were paid their wages at the end of a workday (24:14). Also, everyone was to bear the consequences and punishment for their sins. Therefore, a father was not to be punished for the sins of his children, nor were his children to be punished for the sins of their father (24:16).

Charity Was the Law (Deuteronomy 24:19-22)

In ancient times there was no welfare system, and the impoverished were a perpetual presence on the earth. Tragically, widows were sometimes forsaken by their children, orphans were neglected, and foreigners often found themselves homeless. Moses reminded the congregation how Israel suffered bondage in Egypt. He urged the people to remember the poor and let them glean the leftovers from their fields, olive trees, and grapevines.

Deuteronomy 25

Time and space prevent a thorough commentary on Deuteronomy 25; however, I suggest the following outline of principles for your study.

I. Capital Punishment and Civil Justice (Deuteronomy 25:1-4)

II. Family Posterity (Deuteronomy 25:5-12)

III. Business and Commerce (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

IV. The Offence of an Enemy (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

Closing thoughts:

Once again, I trust you have seen the grace of God evidenced throughout His Laws and Commandments. Although some invite believers to ignore the Old Testament altogether, they do so at their peril and that of their followers. But, of course, the greatest expression of God’s Law and grace is identified in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Questions to consider:

1) Could a divorced man remarry his wife after she had been married to another man? (Deuteronomy 24:4)

2) What was God’s judgment concerning human traffickers? (Deuteronomy 24:7)

3) Rather than long terms of imprisonment, how was an offense settled in Israel? (Deuteronomy 25:1-3)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Feminization, Sanitation, and Compassion (Deuteronomy 23)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 23

We continue our study of Moses’ challenge to Israel as he prepared that nation to go forward without him as its leader. Some of the principles in today’s Scripture may seem mundane; however, such was not the case for a nation that had suffered the humiliation of bondage for four centuries.

Moses taught the children of Israel how to conduct themselves in the sight of the LORD and preserve their sanctity as His people. In today’s devotion, we will consider the right of citizenship in ancient Israel and the exclusion of some from “the congregation of the LORD” (23:1).

The Feminization and Castration of Men Was Forbidden (23:1)

The topic of mutilation or castration is one in which we must use discretion; however, the LORD was clear in His instruction concerning honoring one’s vessel (i.e., body). There was to be no mutualization of a man’s private parts, for such was unnatural and against God’s created order.

Illegitimate Sons (23:2)

Sons born of adultery, or incest, were to be excluded in Israel unto the “tenth generation” (23:2). Also, sons borne of extra-marital relationships were excluded, for their conception was contrary to the will and design of God’s order.

Ammonites and Moabites Were Not Permitted in Israel (23:3-6)

These nations were the offspring of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughters (Genesis 19:30-38). While the Ammonites and Moabites might live in the land, they were not accepted as part of the congregation of Israel (the exception could be if one became a proselyte of the God of Israel, as was the case with Ruth the Moabitess, who became the wife of Boaz, Ruth 1:4; 4:13). Also, the Ammonites and Moabites had made themselves adversaries of Israel by hiring Balaam to curse the people (23:4-6).

Edomites and Egyptians (23:7-8)

Edom and Egypt were not friends of Israel; however, both had a history that prevented their complete exclusion. The Edomites were of the lineage of Esau and, therefore, distant kin of Israel through Isaac (for Esau was Jacob’s brother, 23:7). Egypt was also an exception, for that nation had been the host of Israel during their sojourn in that land. 

Cleanness and Purity in Times of War (23:9-11)

Remembering the presence of the LORD was represented by the Tabernacle amid the encampment; the people were reminded to keep themselves clean (23:9-10). A man who was not clean was to remain outside the camp until the evening and “wash himself with water” before entering the camp (23:11).

A Lesson in Sanitation (23:12-14)

The sanitation guidelines given by Moses to Israel placed that nation centuries ahead of other countries. The tribes were instructed to practice cleanliness and basic sanitation. They were not to answer nature’s call (i.e., to relieve themselves) within the camp. Instead, they were instructed to go outside the camp’s borders, “have a paddle” (a spade or shovel), and cover their excrement.

We understand much about sanitation and disease today; however, only in the past two centuries has proper hygiene been fully appreciated. The sanitation commanded by the LORD was not only because He dwelt amid His people but also because it was right and good for the health and well-being of the people (23:14).

Compassion for a Fleeing Slave (23:15-16)

A slave that had fled from his heathen master and sought refuge in Israel was not to be returned to his master (23:15). Instead, he was given shelter in the land and allowed to dwell where he chose (23:16).

Prostitution and Sodomy Condemned (23:17-18)

All manner of gross immorality accompanied the worship of idols in ancient times. Whoredom, and sodomy were ever present among the heathen nations. No daughter of Israel was to fall into whoredom, and no son was to be a homosexual (described as “the price of a dog,” thus graphically describing the debasement of sodomy, 23:18).

Usury: Charging Interest on Debts (23:19-20)

Israelite men were not to charge their fellow man (“thy brother”) interest for borrowing money (23:19). A “stranger,” however, a non-Hebrew, was lawfully charged interest on debts (23:20).

To Vow, Or Not to Vow (23:21-23)

Swearing an oath, or vowing a vow, was a serious matter with the LORD and was not to be taken lightly (23:21). No man was to “vow a vow unto the LORD” and fail to fulfill it without delay (23:21b). Indeed, it would be better not to have committed oneself to a vow, than to do so and fail to fulfill it (23:22-23).

To Eat, or Not to Eat (23:24-25)

Suppose a man is hungry and lacks the means to feed himself. Should that man be permitted to take from another’s field or vineyard and satisfy his hunger? The answer was recorded in Deuteronomy 23:24-25 which reminds us that the God of Israel was compassionate and merciful.

A hungry man was allowed to eat grapes from his neighbor’s vineyard and take wheat kernels from his neighbor’s field. He could not, however, go into his neighbor’s field with a vessel and fill it. So, instead, he was allowed to take only what he needed to quench his hunger.

Closing thoughts:

The growth of incivility we observe today is attributable to society rejecting the spiritual principles and precepts of God’s Word. I trust you are developing an appreciation for the judicious nature of the LORD and His grace and compassion expressed in His Law and Commandments. The LORD requires that we exercise grace and common decency toward others.

Questions to consider:

1) Who was excluded from entering the congregation of Israel? (23:1-6)

2) What was the law concerning a slave who had escaped his harsh master? (23:15-16)

3) How serious were vows made to the LORD? (23:21-23)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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“WOKE,” Civility, Women’s Rights, and Sexual Perversity (Deuteronomy 21; Deuteronomy 22)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 21-22

Warning: You may find the content of today’s devotion inflammatory; however, its immediate relevance is undeniable.

Moses continued his charge to Israel in our Scripture reading. In Deuteronomy 21-22, fundamental principles establish the sanctity of human life, the basics of civil decency and human kindness, and the practical application of the command, “love thy neighbor.”

Deuteronomy 21 – Fundamentals of Civil Duty

“Thou Shalt Not Kill” (Deuteronomy 21:1-9)

In our study of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), we have considered several passages of Scripture that explain the sanctity of human life and the sixth commandment that reads, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Capital punishment, a “life for a life,” was God’s judgment upon the man who willfully, and deliberately took the life of another (19:11-13, 21). In addition, Deuteronomy 21:1-9 addressed the loss of human life, should a victim’s body be discovered, but there are no witnesses to the murder.

Concerning Women Taken as Spoil of Wartimes (21:10-14)

Ancient cultures considered women taken as prisoners in war to be nothing more than a possession, a spoil of battle. The God of Israel, however, established laws to protect women. Should a man desire to take a female prisoner as his wife, he was to allow her head to be shaved, an outward symbol of her purification, and give her thirty days to mourn her parents’ deaths before taking her as his wife (21:12-13). Should the man later decide to reject her, he was to set her at liberty and was commanded to neither sell nor humiliate her (21:14).

The Inheritance Rights of a Firstborn Son (21:15-17)

Some propose that the reference to “two wives” (21:15) suggested polygamy; however, I believe it is not. From our study of the Book of Genesis, we know that God defined marriage as “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24), meaning the union of one man and one woman. Therefore, polygamy cannot be the intent of Deuteronomy 21:15, for the Mosaic Law did not redefine what God Himself had designed and established.

In my opinion, the explanation for the reference to “two wives” (one being described as “beloved” and the other “hated”) implied that the first wife was dead. In this example, the first wife had given birth to a son; as the firstborn son, he was the husband’s heir (21:15-16). The second wife, the stepmother of the firstborn son, would perhaps be tempted to influence her husband to disown his firstborn; thereby choosing her son to be his heir (21:16). The LORD condemned that practice. He declared that the firstborn son would be given “a double portion” of all that was his father’s (21:17).

Capital Punishment of a Rebellious Son (21:18-21)

A disobedient son, defined as “stubborn and rebellious” (21:18), refused to hear and obey his father and mother. Such a son (described as “a glutton, and a drunkard”) would be brought before the city elders, who would sit in judgment of his character (21:19-20).

I understand that stoning a rebellious son is undoubtedly offensive to our 21st-century sensibilities. Yet, given the severity of the punishment, we can conclude that it was a rare event. Indeed, such a judgment required the consent of both the father and mother (21:19-20). Yet, should the city’s elders find the son guilty, he would have been stoned to death by the “men of his city” (21:21).

Deuteronomy 22 – Having a Good Conscience

Compassion for a Neighbor’s Livestock (22:1-4)

We are reminded that God’s people were to love their neighbors. That command applied to his person and was demonstrated practically in one’s duty to his neighbor’s livestock, clothes, and possessions (22:1-3). Should a man’s ox, sheep, or donkey be astray, his neighbor was to restore them to their owner. Should the owner not be readily known, an Israelite was commanded to take the animal to his home until its rightful owner was established (22:2). Once again, we are reminded that God is benevolent. He required compassion for the animals of His creation (22:4).

An Abomination: TransgenderTransexuals (22:5)

There is much ado about the “rights” of self-declared “Queers, “Transexuals,” and “Asexuals” in 21st-century society. Such people aspire to blend and distort the natural differences between males and females in their dress and manner. It may surprise you to learn that blurring the distinctiveness in the sexes is not a “new woke” (as some would have you believe). Indeed, it was declared an “abomination unto the LORD” in the Scriptures and condemned as a practice among ancient heathen societies (22:5).

Compassion and Affection for Nature (22:6-7)

From the beginning, humanity was commanded to be the “keeper” of God’s creation (Genesis 2:15). It follows, therefore, that even the smallest of creatures should arouse in man a natural affection and compassion (22:7).

Closing thoughts:

Several other laws and guidelines are given in Deuteronomy 22, but I conclude this devotion by inviting you to notice the LORD’s protection of womankind (22:13-29).

Unlike their heathen neighbors, Israelite women were protected and shielded from abuses that are even prevalent today. For example, a woman had the right to due process should her purity and testimony be questioned. Also, should a woman be forcefully taken and raped, the severity of the law would fall upon the man, and he would forfeit his life for his sin (22:25-27).

Tragically, our nation and world have rejected the authority of God’s Word and removed itself from the divine guiding principles for life and civil society. We have become a people with laws divorced from unalterable principles. As a result, we are governed by the whims of wicked, unprincipled men and women. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah’s condemnation of the wicked is applicable and relevant when we read:

Isaiah 5:20-21 – “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

Questions to consider:

1) How were captive, enslaved women to be treated in Israel? (21:10-14)

2) What might become of a rebellious son? (21:19-19)

3) Why would the adage “finders, keepers” not apply to God’s people? (22:1-3)

4) What was the law concerning a man dressing like a woman or a woman dressing like a man? (22:5)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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The Law and Commandments of the LORD are Gracious (Deuteronomy 15)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 15

Some in our churches suggest the Laws and Commandments of the Old Testament were cold, oppressive, and lacking in grace. They are wrong! In their historical context and with an understanding of their application, you will find that the Law and Commandments of the LORD are fair and judicious. For example, consider the guidelines for the borrower and lender recorded in Deuteronomy 15.

Debtors, Lenders, and the Sabbatical Year (15:1-6)

The Sabbath Year occurred every seven years on the Hebrew calendar, and it was the year the LORD commanded the land to rest. Fields were not worked, seeds were not planted, and any vegetation that volunteered and gave fruit was committed to the poor and grazing animals.

Consider how a man would pay his debt if he could not plant crops during the Sabbath Year. If unable to plant seeds and harvest crops, what became of a man who acquired debt? Because there was no harvest in the seventh year, the law did not permit lenders to press the poor for payment. Instead, in the Sabbath Year, the lender suspended the debt payment for the year (although a non-Hebrew was not released of his obligation to pay his debt in the seventh year, 15:3). Furthermore, God promised that if lenders showed their debtors grace, He would bless the nation (15:4). Indeed, Israel would become a lender, not a borrower, to other countries (15:5-6).

Lending to the Poor (15:7-11)

Concerning the poor, we read, “The poor shall never cease out of the land” (15:11). Regardless of the wealth and prosperity of a nation, the poor are a perpetual presence in the world (15:11). Once again, as a testimony of God’s grace and mercy, the LORD required His people to be charitable, especially to those who were “one of the brethren” (meaning a Hebrew, 15:7). God’s people were commanded to open their hand and heart when they looked upon another in need (15:7). Not only was a lender commanded to not be miserly in charitable giving, he was to “lend him [the poor] sufficient for his need” (15:8).

Because some might seek to take advantage of the immediacy of a Sabbath Year (knowing the repayment of a debt was suspended that year), it was reasonable to suspect lenders might refuse to give to those in need. Such reasoning was a sin in the eyes of the LORD (15:9b). Therefore, lenders were exhorted to give and trust “the Lordthy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (15:10).

Slavery, and the Release of Slaves (15:12-18)

Slavery was a cultural reality in the ancient world, and poverty was often the catalyst for enslavement. For example, should a Hebrew (man or woman) be unable to pay their debt, he or she would become a slave to the lender (15:12). Now, the practice of the heathen was to afflict debtors with perpetual enslavement. The LORD, however, provided that His people would not become an endless enslaved people (15:12). Therefore, an indebted Hebrew might serve a master for six years; however, in the seventh year, they were released of their debt and set free (15:12b).

As another evidence of the grace and mercy expressed in God’s Law, a master was to ensure a freedman would not “go away empty” (15:13). Therefore, a master was required to honor the one set free and give “him liberally out of [his] flock, and out of [his] floor, and out of [his] winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed [him] thou shalt give unto him [the freeman]” (15:14). Yet, there were masters who were so kind and gracious, that a slave might elect to continue as an enslaved person for life. Such a one would have a hole pierced through his ear, thus marking him as a servant forever (15:17).

Dedication and Consecration of the Firstborn (15:19-23)

The concluding verses of Deuteronomy 15 served as a reminder that the firstborn of Hebrew households was dedicated to the LORD. The precedence for this requirement was set when the tenth plague struck down the firstborn of Egyptian families (Exodus 13:2, 15). Because the Hebrews had applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their households, the LORD had spared the firstborn of Israel. That deliverance was forever memorialized by the Hebrews dedicating every firstborn male to the LORD (Exodus 13:2, 15).

Thus, the firstborn of cattle and sheep were to be unblemished and offered as a sacrificial meal (15:19-20). Also, firstborn oxen were not to be worked in the fields, nor were firstborn sheep to be sheared, for they were the LORD’s. Should a firstborn be blemished, it was not a worthy sacrifice to the LORD and would therefore be eaten like ordinary meat (15:21-23; 12:15).

Closing thoughts:

In closing, I invite you to consider how the Law and Commandments of the LORD were gracious. We have seen that the LORD protected the poor from harsh lenders and slaves from cruel taskmasters, and He extended seasons and reasons for hope and relief.

Finally, remember that all offerings were a picture (i.e., type) of God’s final and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Mary’s firstborn was the perfect, sinless, unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

Is He your Savior?

Questions to consider:

1) How often were the Israelites required to cancel the debts of their brethren? (15:1-2)

2) What were the conditions for Israel to avoid being a debtor to other nations? (15:5-6)

3) What people are a perpetual presence in the world? (15:11)

4) What were the Israelites forbidden to eat? (15:23)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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“If Sinners Entice Thee, Consent Thou Not!” (Deuteronomy 13; Deuteronomy 14)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 13-14

Deuteronomy 13

Deuteronomy 12 concluded with Moses cautioning the people, “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (12:32). That admonition brings to mind a similar warning that is found in the closing words of the New Testament, where we read: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life” (Revelation 22:18–19).

The Punishment of Idolaters (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)

Concerning the laws of idolatry, if a man supposed himself a prophet and performed signs and wonders, he was to be rejected if his prophecy was a departure from the revelations of the LORD (13:1-3). Likewise, if a man said, “Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them” (13:2), he was to “be put to death” (13:4-5).

An Intolerance of Idolatry, Even Among One’s Kindred (Deuteronomy 13:6-11)

Not even the bonds of love and family were to obstruct the judgment of the LORD concerning the worship of idols (13:6-7). If a loved one enticed a man and said, “Let us go and serve other gods” (13:6), that man was guilty of a capital offense, and his sin was to be exposed (13:7-8). Because of the grievous sin of idolatry and its judgment, it was never to be concealed. A witness to idolatry was commanded to be the first to cast a stone (13:9). Then the congregation would “stone [the idolater] with stones, that he die” (13:10), thereby sharing in the idolater’s judgment and condemnation.

The Idolatry of a City Called for Complete Destruction (Deuteronomy 13:12-18)

Should a city turn to idolatry, its inhabitants were to be killed, its flocks and herds destroyed, and the spoils of the city burned with fire (13:12-16). Moses promised that if all were destroyed, the “Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers” (13:17).

Deuteronomy 14 – The Children of Israel Were a Unique, Chosen People

Moses began Deuteronomy 14 with a grand declaration concerning Israel:

“1Ye are the children of the Lord your God…an holy people [sanctified, set apart] unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people [His treasure] unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (14:1a, 2).

Israel’s Mourning for Their Dead was Unique (Deuteronomy 14:1-2)

The first implication of Israel’s peculiar nature was how the nation mourned its dead. We read, “Ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead” (14:1b).

Let me explain. The heathen would cut their flesh and shave their heads as outward signs of mourning at funerals. Israel, however, was forbidden to do the same. The heathen mutilated their bodies as a sign of grief, but the people whom the God of heaven had chosen were not to mourn as those without hope! Paul exhorted believers concerning the same hope, writing, “13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14).

Israel’s Unique Diet (Deuteronomy 14:3-21)

The subject of Deuteronomy 14:3-21 was clean and unclean meats (we have considered that law in earlier devotions, Leviticus 11). The differences between clean beasts and unclean beasts (14:3-8), clean and unclean fish (14:9-10), and clean and unclean birds (14:11-19) were all identified and addressed. The people were also reminded that they were not to eat diseased animals (14:21a), nor cook or boil a “kid” (a baby goat) in its mother’s milk (such would be cruel to the sensitivity of nature, 14:21b).

Israel’s Unique Worship and Memorials to the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:22-29)

The geographical locations of some tribes in Canaan would put them at great distances from the Tabernacle (14:22-24). Therefore, some couldn’t tithe the first fruits of the harvest and offer the firstborn (“firstlings of thy herds”). So, the matter was resolved by permitting the people to “turn it [the tithe and the firstlings] into money” (14:25). Then, by taking the money and going to the Tabernacle, a man could purchase whatever he desired in the meat, meal, and wine as his tithe to the LORD (14:26).

Distances would prevent the practice of tithing as observed in the wilderness. Yet, the people were warned to honor the LORD with their tithe and not forsake the care and maintenance of “the Levite that is within thy gates” and city (14:27). Every three years, one’s tithe was not taken to the Tabernacle (14:28-29). Instead, it was to be laid “up within thy gates” (14:28) and used in one’s town and village to feed the Levite, the alien, the orphan, and the widow among them (14:29). For their faithfulness with the tithes; the LORD promised to bless the labor of his people.

Closing thoughts:

Israel was called to be a unique, peculiar, and holy people to the LORD (Deuteronomy 14:1-2). That exhortation reminds me of two similar ones recorded in the New Testament. First, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Peter exhorted believers, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9).

Paul challenged believers “be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). Solomon wrote the same when he challenged his son, “If sinners entice thee, Consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:10).

Questions to consider:

1) How does a believer prove he loves the LORD? (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

2) What was God’s judgment if a loved one tempted another to worship idols? (Deuteronomy 13:6-10)

3) What two things identified Israel as a unique people and nation? (Deuteronomy 14:1-3)

4) Who was Israel commanded not to neglect? (Deuteronomy 14:27)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Obey the LORD, and He Will Bless You (Numbers 33)

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Scripture reading – Numbers 33

It is fitting that Numbers 33 begins with a look back at the providences of the LORD and His compassion on the children of Israel during their forty years in the wilderness. Admittedly, the names of the places where Israel encamped seem belaboring; however, each site reminds me that God is sovereign and orders the stops and the starts of His people.

Israel’s Exodus out of Egypt (Numbers 33:3-8)

From their Egyptian exodus (33:3-7) and passage through the midst of the Red Sea (33:8) to their return to “the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho” (33:50), the LORD had journeyed with His chosen people. He miraculously provided water and food along the way, proving He was a compassionate, loving God (33:9-37).

Nearing their journey’s end, we are suddenly and unceremoniously reminded: “Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt…[he] was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor” (33:38).

Aaron’s death served as a reminder that a whole generation perished because they refused to trust the LORD and enter the land. Except for Joshua and Caleb, of all who left Egypt, twenty years and older, they had died short of their destination.

A Command and A Warning (Numbers 33:50-56)

Now, the LORD promised Israel a fertile and fruitful land; however, it was inhabited by the Canaanites. Therefore, to take possession of their inheritance, Israel would have to drive the inhabitants out of the land (33:52a). The nation was commanded to destroy all the ways of the Canaanites, including their idols and the high places where they worshipped (33:52-53).

The land was to be divided by casting lots, and each family was to receive their inheritance based on the numerical size of the family (33:54).

Closing thoughts:

Numbers 33 closed with a warning: Should Israel fail to drive the inhabitants out of the land, the Canaanites would become “pricks in [their] eyes, and thorns in [their] sides” (33:55). Therefore, the people would have no rest therein. If Israel failed to obey God’s command and drive the Canaanites out of the land, the LORD warned that He would do to them what He would have done to their enemies (33:56).

Questions to consider:

1) Who recorded the history of Israel’s journey in the wilderness? (Numbers 33:2)

2) What feast day commemorated Israel’s departure from Egypt? (Numbers 33:3)

3) How old was Aaron, the high priest, when he died? (Numbers 33:39)

4) What was Israel’s fate if the people failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land? (Numbers 33:55-56)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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The Final Census, Women’s Rights and a New Leader (Numbers 26; Numbers 27)

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Scripture Reading – Numbers 26-27

The gross adultery and idolatry recorded in Numbers 25 had provoked God to send a plague in Israel that occasioned the deaths of 24,000 people (25:9). With the plague passed, the LORD commanded Moses to take a final census before crossing the Jordan River, “from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel” (26:2).

Numbers 26 

The Final Census Before the Promised Land (26:1-51)

A census of the Twelve Tribes of Israel was first taken in Numbers 1-4. Comparing that census with this later one revealed a slight decrease in the Twelve Tribes overall (the first totaling 603,500 men, and the second 601,730 men, who were twenty years or older). Some tribes had experienced a decline (Simeon declining from 59,300 men to 22,200 men, twenty years and older). Other tribes had experienced significant population growth (the men of the tribe of Manasseh had increased from 32,200 to 52,700 men, twenty years and older). The names and the numbering of the Twelve Tribes were recorded in Numbers 26:5-50.

How the Land Would be Divided (26:52-62)

The census was necessary, for it became the basis for assigning each tribe territory in the Promised Land (26:52-56). The Tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe the LORD chose to serve Him, did not inherit land in Canaan (26:62).

A Sobering Reminder of the Generation that Perished (26:62-65)

Numbers 26 concluded with a sobering reminder of God’s judgment upon Israel (26:64). The prior generation had come out of Egypt, but refused to trust the LORD and obey Him. As a result, all, twenty years and older, perished in the wilderness, save two men: “For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (26:65).

Numbers 27 

Women’s Rights of Inheritance (27:1-11)

Numbers 27:1-11 is a case study regarding women’s rights and reveals the inequitable laws women protest are not God’s way, but men’s! If men followed the ethics of the Scriptures, they would realize that the ways of the LORD are wise, benevolent, and compassionate.

Five daughters of one man of the tribe of Manasseh came to Moses and Eleazar, the high priest (27:1-2). Their father had died, leaving no male heir. Therefore, the daughters could plead their case regarding their late father’s right of inheritance in the Promised Land (27:1-4). According to the law, a man’s estate was to pass to his son; however, what became of a man’s possessions when there was no son?

The daughters reasoned, “4Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son?” (27:4) They pleaded that they and their father had been slighted and petitioned, “Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father” (27:4).

Rather than make a hasty, ill-advised decision, or trust men’s opinions, Moses withdrew and “brought [the] cause[of the daughters] before the LORD” (27:5). The LORD affirmed the sisters’ assertion (27:6) and answered Moses: “Thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter” (27:7). To ensure a family’s possessions would remain within the tribe, it was determined that should a man die and have neither a son nor daughter, his inheritance would pass to his next of kin (27:9-11).

End of an Era: Moses’ Imminent Death (27:12-13)

The LORD then commanded Moses, “Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered” (27:12-13).

A Changing of the Guard: A Man of God’s Choosing (27:14-23)

Moses was then reminded that he would not enter the Land of Promise (27:14; 20:7-13). With humility, he accepted the consequence of his sin with grace. Then, like a true shepherd leader, Moses requested the LORD “set a man over the congregation” (27:16). Moses desired to ensure his successor would be a man of God’s choosing and have a shepherd’s heart (27:17).

So, God chose “Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit [of God]” (27:18).  Leaving no uncertainty that Joshua was His choice (27:18), the LORD directed Moses to confirm him before “all the congregation” (27:19-20). Moses obeyed the LORD, took Joshua, and “laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded” (27:23).

Closing thoughts:

Although he was one of the most extraordinary men ever to live, Moses inevitably went the way of all flesh and was “gathered unto [his] people, as Aaron [his] brother was gathered” (27:13).  Miriam was dead; Aaron was dead; and because he had disobeyed the LORD and sinned before all the people, Moses would die, without entering the Promised Land (27:14).

I am reminded that “the best of men are men at best,” and their lives are no more than “a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Many ignore and deny the haunting fact that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27); however, godly men pray, “So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Make today count for eternity and “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Questions to consider:

1) Who was to be counted in the census? (26:2)

2) How many sons did Joseph have, and what were their names? (26:28)

3) How many men were numbered in Israel before they entered the Promised Land? (26:51)

4) Why did the daughters of Zelophehad come to Moses and Eleazar? (27:3-4)

5) Understanding his death was imminent, what request did Moses bring to the LORD? (27:15-17)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Evil Companions Corrupt Good Morals (Numbers 25)

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Scripture Reading – Numbers 25

Numbers 25 brings us to Shittim, the staging ground for Israel to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land (25:1).

Shittim became the setting of a tragic event, for it was here that “the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab” (25:1). After the suffering and toil of wandering in the wilderness for forty years, how could Israel, break her covenant with the LORD? Not only did the people commit adultery with the heathen, but they also worshiped and offered sacrifices to their gods! (25:1-3)

We read, “Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel” (25:3). Baal-peor was the place where Baal, the Canaanite god of fertility, was worshipped. The Moabites, Midianites, and Ammonites worshipped Baal (closely identified with Moloch). Portrayed as a bull, the Canaanites sacrificed their sons and daughters to Baal and committed all manner of sexual deviancy in worshipping the idol.

Because of their idolatry, God’s wrath was “kindled against Israel” (25:3). The LORD commanded Moses, “Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel” (25:4).

God’s Punishment of Unfaithful Leaders (25:4-13)

The people’s sins were egregious, and God’s judgment was swift (25:4-5). He placed the responsibility for the sins of the nation upon the “heads [leaders] of the people” (25:5). He demanded they be slain and their bodies hanged in the sun as a warning to the people (25:5).

One man was so brazen that he “brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman (the daughter of a Midianite tribal chief) in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel” (25:6).  Phinehas, the son of the high priest Eleazar, rose and slew the man and the Midianite woman. He thrust them both through with a javelin (25:6-8). As a result, God’s judgment fell upon Israel, and 24,000 perished (25:9).

We are also reminded that nothing escapes the notice of God, for the LORD acknowledged Phinehas’ zeal for righteousness and established a perpetual covenant of the priesthood with him and his lineage (25:10-13).

Closing thoughts:

The sin committed at Shittim was so tragic that the names of the couple slain by Phinehas were recorded (25:14-15). The LORD also commanded Moses, “Vex the Midianites, and smite them” (25:17).

Several spiritual lessons might be drawn from today’s Scripture reading; however, I will limit myself to one: “Be not deceived: evil communications [companions] corrupt [ruins; destroys] good manners [morals]” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

The Scriptures do not reveal how the men of Israel came to worship the god of Baal and to commit whoredom. However, we can be confident that the proximity of the “daughters of Moab” (25:1) provided the Israelites not only a familiarity with them, but also a tolerance of their wicked ways (25:1-3).

Indeed, the 21st-century church desperately needs young men like Phinehas, who love God and have a zeal for godliness.

Will you commit yourself to having a godly zeal in the 21st century?

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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Mailing Address:
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You can email HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com for more information on this daily devotional ministry.