Deuteronomy 21: The Death Penalty

"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father or mother and doesn't listen to them even after they discipline him,"

Deuteronomy 21:18

I'm astonished at how nonchalantly Ancient Israel's law recommends the death penalty.  A rebellious son as described above is to be taken to the gate of his city and stoned to death.  How could any father bring himself to do this?  I understand that the wages of sin is death, and that rebelling against one's parents violates the Ten Commandments, but as a father myself I cannot imagine a man doing this to his own son!

The more I read the Old Testament, the more I realize that I should have been dead a long time ago.  If our current society gave the death penalty as freely as Israel did, I'd have died at least a few dozen times by now, if not hundreds!  What son isn't guilty of stubbornly rebelling against his father from time to time?

Question of the Day:

How is your relationship with Christ (and the people around you) change when you fully understand that you deserve death for your sinful actions?

Prayer of the Day:

Thank You, Lord, for your mercy and grace!  Thank You for life everlasting, and for giving me so many second-chances that I could never use them all up!  I am completely and utterly undeserving of Your love, yet You have found me to be worth Saving.  Thank You for moving Your Spirit over me and my house.  Thank You for bringing us into the Light and allowing us to overcome our hurts and fears.  Thank You for giving me another day - another chance to make right all the wrongs of my past.  Amen.