Have you ever felt compelled to do something because it was the right thing to do? God wants us to always live that way and that is what Deuteronomy 22 is all about. The chapter invites those who trust God to help and to show care to other people’s assets – in this case, domestic animals – when needed; to show care towards helpless creatures, even when one of them will become a meal; to not deceive others by changing our identity; and to not commit adultery or throw false accusations within a family setting. The punishment guidelines are always severe and shows how much God is opposed to the self-edifying, self-protective, and self-serving things we do to boost ourselves at the expense of others.
When we trust God, we will not let our personal inconveniences or financial profit prevent us from doing the right thing and extend help for people in need. When we trust God, we will not abuse God’s created things for our personal gain, rather we will show care towards all things God has created, whether they are animals (verse 6, 10) or plants (verse 9). When we love God, we will choose to show kindness and do the right thing, no matter what the cost, because God wants us to do the right thing.
