I find myself asking that question a lot as I read Scripture that seems so harsh. We have the blessing of knowing Jesus and His teaching. Why not gentler then? Deuteronomy 23 is a Chapter excluding from the assembly of the Lord. Men emasculated by cutting or crushing; Ammonites or Moabites. Then v. 12-14 where they are admonished to be sure to relieve themselves in a designated place outside camp and cover it up For the Lord your God moves about your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

There are other laws – no Israelite man or woman is to be a shrine prostitute which you would think would go without saying but they are entering into a land where that practice is normal. Keep vows you make to the Lord; do not charge your people interest; be considerate of your neighbors vineyard and grain field.

Somehow when we think about these instructions they don’t seem so harsh after all. Think of all the laws we have on the books in every nation.

Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:5.

God doesn’t hate eunuchs. Acts 8:26-40 is the beautiful account of the Holy Spirit sending Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch to instruct him as he read Isaiah 53 about Jesus. The eunuch was hungry to learn. For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you….

We can read Scripture and think it’s ancient writing or we can hunger to learn from our Lord who is Holy and of great power: his understanding infinite…who moves about us…

How do we apply that trust today? I am in great need of His great power. Ice is falling outside. My husband and I are positive for Covid and I have a new bladder infection. I am in great need of His sustaining strength and help to get through the next 48 hours and in Him I am safe. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7.

God whose understanding is infinite has a plan and that plan includes each one of us and we can trust Him and take His hand gladly. I am so grateful for His love and care. It’s personal.