For many modern Christians, Deuteronomy is seen as either too difficult to understand or too far from the concerns of our day—it is ancient law, outdated and no longer able to address the complex issues of a modern society. Furthermore, Deuteronomy is “law”—that from which we in the age of grace have been delivered, and now that we are saved by grace, we are no longer under the awful law with its strict rules and condemnation.

Husband’s and fathers you are to love your wife as Christ, the great Shepherd, loved the church, according to Ephesians 5:25 and you are to train up your children in admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:3 . This is the work of a shepherd. Men the shepherding of your family, whether you have children or not, is important to Christ and His kingdom. In fact we need to get this picture in our mind: it is only part of your job to make money and provide for your family. It is half the picture and is certainly not the centre of our calling. For those of us who are husbands and fathers the very centre of our calling is not taking dominion in the jungle of our employment; rather it is our homes. Our family should not be some separate slice or aspect of our lives. It should be the very centre of our calling to exercise dominion and the primary place where we make manifest the kingdom of Christ.