Deuteronomy 13:6-11 – Preferring God above all human relationships

In previous verses in Deuteronomy 13, God warned the people of Israel that enticement to turn to worship and serve other gods would not only come from the Canaanites but could also come from a prophet or a dreamer among them. In Deuteronomy 13:6-11, He turned to another group of people who could be a potential source of enticement for them to deflect from God. These people were none other than their close and intimate members of their family. The allurement to deflect and worship and serve other gods could come from their brother, son, or daughter, and even a bosom friend.

In fact, close family members would be more dangerous than those of the Canaanites and prophets or dreamers because they were people with whom the Israelites had shared affinity. They were people whom they would naturally give their attention to and would be more ready to listen to than people whom they were unfamiliar with. God insisted that such a relative or intimate friend should not be heeded to. How should they be dealt with instead? Verse 8 explicitly said with emphasis the Israelites must not yield, listen, show pity, and spare or conceal such a relative. This errant family member must be executed. In fact, the whole community should be involved in the execution.

An enticement to deflect from God was a serious matter and the source must be dealt with severely. God's prescription to deal with such people tells us how seriously He regards the people who cause others to stumble. Again in our setting to kill someone would be against the law. The application of God’s instruction regarding this matter in our context meant we should cut all ties with such a relative. There is a wise Chinese saying that tells us to get rid of weeds, one must also remove the roots. Jesus Himself views the matter of stumbling others seriously. This was what He said to His disciples in Luke 17:1-2. “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones (or precious one) to stumble.”

As we consider what God told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 13:6-11, we cannot forget what Jesus Himself demanded of us in Luke 10:37-39. And He is still saying to each one of us, that “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” We must also remember His words to us in Luke 14:26-27. He said, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” True love for God makes us prefer Him to any other dear family members of ours. Yes, He demands that we must give Him priority above all relationships. Be sure to make Christ the pre-eminence in all of life!