10-14 “Suppose you go out to war against your enemies and the Lord your God hands them over to you, and you take some of them as captives. And suppose you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you are attracted to her and want to marry her.  If this happens, you may take her to your home, where she must shave her head, cut her nails,  and change the clothes she was wearing when she was captured. She will stay in your home, but let her mourn for her father and mother for a full month. Then you may marry her, and you will be her husband and she will be your wife. But if you marry her and she does not please you, you must let her go free. You may not sell her or treat her as a slave, for you have humiliated her.

15-17 “Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons. And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love. When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son. He must recognize the rights of his oldest son, the son of the wife he does not love, by giving him a double portion. He is the first son of his father’s virility, and the rights of the firstborn belong to him. Deuteronomy 21:10-17 New Living Translation paraphrase (English Standard Version link)

The world has changed a lot over the more than 3000 years since the words of today's reading were written. During those years both the Law of Moses and the Gospel of Christ influenced it for the better, even if at times the change was slow to come about. In today's verses we see two ways the Israelites were taught something better than what they would've seen in other nations of that generation. The first dealt with when a woman was captured after an enemy city had been conquered, and the second was when a man loved one of his wives more than the other. Polygamy wasn’t what God intended for men and women, but it existed then as it still does in some countries today.

God knows human hearts and their many failings. Many of His laws were given to keep the Israelites from unkindness, and even cruelty. What would have been a positive side of verses 10-14?

It would certainly have prevented rape, something which soldiers of those days would've done. (And which sadly happens today in places where God's word is not followed.) It also gave the woman time to grieve, and then status as a wife rather than a slave. And if the marriage didn't work out she was not to be degraded and treated as an object. Yes, it was far from perfect, but it was a big step forward from cruelty that was common in those days. (Again, cruelty that can still be seen today whenever the light of the gospel is rejected.)

What about verses 15-17, is there a lesson we can apply to other situations seeing that polygamy is not an issue we will face?

Perhaps I should add that while polygamy is no longer an issue, someone may read this post who has been through divorce and has children from both marriages. But the point I had in mind which still applies to today – perhaps more than ever – is that the Israelites were to do what was right in God's sight, not what they wanted to do. They were not to act according to their feelings - but according to the wisdom that comes from God's word. Think of how much heartache and broken families that would save when it comes to things like favouritism, heirlooms and inheritances. A wise parent seeks to show consistent love for all their children even if there are times when that may be difficult.

We live in days when feelings seem to be getting the better of facts in many people's lifestyles. Big choices that will affect the rest of their lives are often made on what they feel like and want, rather than what is wise and right. What Moses taught in today's verses ought to have made the Israelites think of others rather than just themselves. That's something Christians are called to do as well. How are we doing when it comes to that? Are we guided by our feelings or by God's word?