Deuteronomy 13

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is often portrayed as a cheery, ebullient kids' story--after all, who doesn't love a guy who can rid a town of a rat infestation?--but, as with many fairy tales, it's actually rather depressing and creepy. After the Piper rids the town of the pests, the villagers refuse to render the garishly dressed Piper payment for his services. In response, the Pied Piper does what any sensible, spurned man would do: he merrily absconds with the townspeople's children, who are never seen again. Except for a lame kid, a deaf kid, and a blind kid, who are left behind because their ailments prevent them from keeping up with their mirthful friends. In one version, the door to the mountain "refuge" the Piper lures the kids to closes right in the lame kid's sorry face. I don't know whether that's heartrendingly sad or absurdly hilarious. Probably both.

Ray Bradbury's short story "Zero Hour" also features an entity spiriting away kids, though this time for overtly nefarious purposes. (The ABC TV show The Whispers was loosely based on this story). Both the Piper and the being(s) in Bradbury's story misled people to a point of no return, which can also happen when one listens to those advocating worship of false gods. (I realize this comparison is a stretch, but I can't help the sinuous avenues my mind often embarks upon.)

Moses takes a two-pronged approach. First, he mentions prophets who, either by coincidence or by humbug, make predictions that happen to come true. I suppose it can be tempting to listen more closely to one whose prognostications are always correct--if not for the glaring truth that no one outside of God's prophets has predicted the future with 100% accuracy. I'm reminded of all those studies disproving astrology. My favorite is the one in which scientist Michael Gauquelin provided astrologers with a chart--and 95% of the astrologers said that the chart matched their own personality. Problem was, it turned out that the chart was for a serial killer named Marcel Petiot. (See http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/living/the-scientific-case-against-astrology#all)

Next, Moses addresses a very touchy issue: What if your siblings, kids, or spouse lure you away from God in order to worship false gods? Moses says that they must be put to death--by stoning, no less (verses 9-10). I'm sure such a harsh sentence wouldn't be applicable today, but it's still troubling to think about a loved one seducing you into an ungodly lifestyle.

That's a rather wretched note to end on, so I'll attempt to lighten the mood with this chapter's Moses nugget. Actually, this nugget is more like the continuation of a trend I've been noticing. In verse 14, Moses says, "Then you must inquire, probe, and investigate it thoroughly." These three words have different shades of meaning and connotations, but their definitions are all very similar. Moses did something similar in Deuteronomy 6:1, using the words, "commands, decrees, and laws." This not only demonstrated Moses' varied vocabulary, but it also sears these key words into his listeners' minds. ("Maybe they won't know what 'inquire' and 'probe' mean, but they darn well better know what 'investigate' means!")