March 1: Personal Rights and Remedies

God loves order and freedom, and freedom is found in order. The laws we read of today continue to deal with social issues and disputes, providing the Israelites a code of law to help them live in a just society. Every society strives for freedom and justice. But the human is prone to disorder and the importance of 'mine' blinds us to seeing what is right, so we soon enough fight each other over property, money, ownership, etc. But God’s Creation was not only about the human 'me.' God made us to enjoy community with Him and each other in peace. He helped the Israelites with laws on property, inheritance, loans, labor, relationships, etc. God promised them constantly that if they follow His regulations they will receive blessings. However, those blessings may not necessarily be mainly for you and me, but for the overall community. For example, we read today that God gave number of commands on caring for the poor in Israel. In order to receive God’s blessings they had to give away: cancel loans, not charge interest, and give freely to their countrymen. How hard this must have been? But the promise is blessings for all Israel:

However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. (Deut 15:4-5)

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. (Deut 15:7-8)

God does not change. He still wants us to share the same peace and freedom with each other in our families, our nations and our world. He also still wants us to help the needy.

Praying that this week we all appreciate those just laws and freedoms we enjoy in our society today. But I also pray that God will place one thought of what each one of us can do, as small or as big a step it could be, to make a difference and make our society and our world better and more just - as God intends it to be. I know I should be doing more...