Deuteronomy 24:16 – 22 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from that place. Therefore, I am commanding you to do this.
If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf there, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
When you beat the olives from your trees, you must not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.
When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you must not go over the vines again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. Therefore, I am commanding you to do this.“
Fathers of grown children are not to die for the sins of their children; neither are grown children to die for the sins of the fathers. What of the times when God wiped out entire families? There must have been some agreement within the grown members of the families to rebel against God’s commands.
Here God continues to elaborate His commands regarding kindness to foreigners, orphans, and widows. But why is it so necessary for God to spell things out? God knows the human heart and the wickedness humans can do. Humans love to argue and to split hairs. If God gives the misers among the Israelites any wiggle room, they will immediately find a way of mistreating these vulnerable groups.
Throughout the wanderings of the Israelites, they have had to find food and water. Some surrounding tribes may have helped while others refused. In the end, God has ordered the Israelites to annihilate those tribes that refused to help and to deny any descendants of those tribes political power within Israel.
One of the constant themes that runs throughout the entire Book of Deuteronomy is the phrase “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt!” God doesn’t want the Israelites forgetting that reality. The day the Israelites lose sight of the reality of slavery and of what God has done for them, they are headed for disaster.
APPLICATION: Today is New Year’s Eve. Many people will spend tonight in church services while others will attend parties. But no matter how we spend this evening, we must REMEMBER!
We must REMEMBER how God has preserved us throughout the year.
We must REMEMBER how God has provided for us, sometimes miraculously.
We must REMEMBER those friends and loved ones whom we have lost this year and pray for those who are still sick and suffering.
We must REMEMBER that it is God who will lead us and guide us into a prosperous and peaceful New Year. God will be our refuge and strength. God will be our helper. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they who build it labor in vain.”
Here in Ghana, we have the Gye Nyame Adinkra symbol, a symbol of reliance on God. As we enter the New Year, let us look to God and to no one else!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us throughout this year. As we enter a new year, let us enter it following hard after You and You alone. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
It is by far the most popular for use in decoration, a reflection on the deeply religious character of the Ghanaian people
Burunche's Blog 
December 31, 2021 at 3:21 pm
Hi Dr Jean and Bob, Could you please say more about the *GYE NYAME “except for God” *symbol in your post for today?