Title: Three Odd Verses/ Topic: Various

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 22; Deuteronomy 23; Deuteronomy 24; Galatians 4

Scripture: Deuteronomy 22:10-12
10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

11 Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

12 Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.

Observation: These three verses always have struck me as odd and I'm not sure I really fathom the purposes of them, but I will try to put down my thoughts on the message of each. Verse 10: The strength of these two animals is very different. The message seems to be don't be cruel to a weaker animal by trying to make it work at the level of another much stronger one. Not only is it cruel to the weaker animal, it is inefficient. Neither will work well if they are so mismatched. This verse also brought to mind the verse in I Corinthians that says a believer should never be yoked together with an unbeliever. Like the ox and the donkey, they are two different creatures with two different purposes in life and they won't work well together. Verse 11: Wool holds warmth in and is great for winter weather, and linen is a light material that breathes well so people won't get overheated in the summer. Again, the emphasis seems to be on keeping things separate and using them for their intended purposes. Apparently “intended purpose” is a big deal to God. Verse 12: Okay, I must say I find this verse mostly just amusing. God as Fashion Designer! He likes tassels?

Application: I think the application to my life from these verses is: 1) be as efficient as possible in the use of resources. 2) Use things for the purposes for which they are best suited. 3) It's alright to have pretty clothes!

Prayer: Father, if I'm just not getting everything there is to get out of these verses then show me what I am missing. There is a lot of your Word that seems a little (sometimes a lot) strange to me. Give me wisdom and insight through your Spirit and also through other teachers that you bring into my life. I thank you for your Word.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.