Old Testament: Deu 15.12–15

To read the Bible in a year, read Deuteronomy 14–16 on March 11, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

Sometimes an Israelite would have to go into debt and not being able to pay it back, he would become a servant of the one from whom he had borrowed money. However, the Lord showed that ultimately the lender did not own his poor brother: 

“If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. And when you send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed; you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to him. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.”

– Deuteronomy 15.12–15 

Not only was the lender to release his brother in the seventh year, but the lender could not let his brother go free empty-handed, but the poor brother would need things for daily living and the lender would provide it. Notice that the motivation for an Israelite to so treat his brother was remembering that the children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt. 

Remembering our past helps us to treat others better. 

Questions: 

• How do you treat brethren who owe you money or anything? 
• How do you want to be treated when you are in debt? 

To subscribe go to EmailDevotionals.com and click “Follow”