________(5) Mosaic Law Highlights

____MLH (1)

Let’s now consider Exodus 22:25-27: “25 “If you lend money to anyone poor of my people, someone who is dwelling with you, you must not become like a moneylender to him. You must not charge him interest. 26 “If you seize the garment of your fellow man as security for a loan, you are to return it to him by sunset. 27 For it is his only covering, his clothing to cover his body; in what will he lie down to sleep? When he cries out to me, I will certainly hear, for I am compassionate.”

LENDING TO JEHOVAH. Verse 25 Notice this was out of compassion for someone who has fallen on hard times, to loan them money for their needs. They were not to charge interest as was common with a moneylender. Evidently, Israelites were familiar with “moneylenders” in other nations. This acknowledgement in the Law of a “moneylender” evidently would allow for the practice in Israel, with interest primarily being made on loans for business purposes, big purchases, and the like. Yet were those among Israelites to capitalize on the poor, taking advantage of their adversity? The Law made provision here for neighbors to assist one another when someone was in genuine need. Proverbs 19:17 says, for instance, “17 The one showing favor to the lowly is lending to Jehovah, And He will repay him for what he does.” A lovely Scriptural example of Jehovah repaying someone was when barren Hannah, deeply distressed and longing to give birth to a child, promised to “lend” her first one to Jehovah, this one becoming the prophet Samuel, who served Jehovah faithfully for many years. For doing so, Hannah then received repayment from Jehovah—she would come to have, not just another son, but three more, along with two daughters. Yes, Jehovah is generous when we “lend” to Him!

SUPPORTING YOUR BROTHER. The Law in other places actually commanded that fellow Israelites support one another in need. Leviticus 25:35-37, for instance, actually commanded: “35 “‘If your brother who is nearby becomes poor and cannot support himself, you must sustain him as you would a foreign resident and a settler, so that he may keep alive with you. 36 Do not take interest or make a profit from him. You must be in fear of your God, and your brother will keep alive with you. 37 You must not lend him your money on interest or give out your food for profit.” Apparently, even a foreign resident was to be treated similarly, and not charged interest from those in a position willing and able to help. Rather, such interest was charged, as mentioned, primarily for business dealings and important purchases, as foreigners also might do. Of course, wise ones in need may certainly be able to make use of a loan for profitable business, and are eager to receive any such assistance possible.

GOD'S LOVING INSTRUCTION. Verses 26-27 If a person had only the clothing on his back (his outer garment) as security for a loan, even this was not to be kept after sunset. God thus once again reveals his love toward mankind, and His willingness to listen to the pleas of humans, in saying “When he cries out to me, I will certainly hear, for I am compassionate.” Love is God’s most dominant quality, as revealed by the Christian apostle John, at 1John 4:8, which reads: “8 Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.” How fine when we consider the Mosaic law from the standpoint of God’s loving instruction to preserve genuine peace and happiness among humans. Helpful still are the teachings of Christianity, as Jesus embodied the Law, fulfilling but not destroying it. We are not to misinterpret Galatians 3:24-25, which says “24 So the Law became our guardian leading to Christ, so that we might be declared righteous through faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a guardian.” Recall that Jesus said he did not come to "destroy the Law, but to fulfill it." So, now we are under the law in the ultimate way. As we carefully seek to imitate Jesus and seek ever to live by his teachings, we come to fulfill the Law of the Christ as he did. In this way, God is writing His law on hearts, within each person. Thus verse 26 continues "You are all, in fact, sons of God through your faith in Christ Jesus." Regardless of our place spiritually, certainly all should seek to be God's children. As we learn to deal fairly and justly with one another, the Mosaic Law still educates mankind on such principles. May we continue our examination, and benefit by seeing God’s love and compassion evidenced by his guiding instruction.