But when they measured [the manna] with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.
—Exodus 16:18a
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
—Leviticus 23:22
“When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.”
—Deuteronomy 24:20-22
The Lord's people remember who the Lord is and what He has done, remember who they themselves are and walk accordingly. That allows them to serve as His witnesses.
Children start learning important lessons even before they begin learning reading or writing or arithmetic. Including kindness. Israel had much to learn, so the Lord began teaching them very early. They needed to learn to trust Him, so He provided food and water in the wilderness. They needed to learn fairness, so He arranged it so that each one would have enough.
After children learn basics, such as the names of colors, the alphabet, and counting, they are ready to learn bigger subjects, such as art, reading, and arithmetic, that make use of the most elementary lessons. Including manners. The Law of Moses looked forward to their life in the promised land, and it taught them how to make use of the bounty that would be available to them.
As the Law clearly stated the way Israel was to use bountiful harvests, the Lord continued to remind His people of who He is and of their own past. Instead of squeezing every possible bit of profit from their fields and orchards and vineyards, the Lord's people were commanded to make that bounty available to others, giving opportunities to those of lesser means.
The Lord is not the God of selfish productivity. He is the God of compassion and grace.
Sojourners (part 3)
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
—Psalm 77:11-13
But when they measured [the manna] with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.
—Exodus 16:18a
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
—Leviticus 23:22
“When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.”
—Deuteronomy 24:20-22
The Lord's people remember who the Lord is and what He has done, remember who they themselves are and walk accordingly. That allows them to serve as His witnesses.
Children start learning important lessons even before they begin learning reading or writing or arithmetic. Including kindness. Israel had much to learn, so the Lord began teaching them very early. They needed to learn to trust Him, so He provided food and water in the wilderness. They needed to learn fairness, so He arranged it so that each one would have enough.
After children learn basics, such as the names of colors, the alphabet, and counting, they are ready to learn bigger subjects, such as art, reading, and arithmetic, that make use of the most elementary lessons. Including manners. The Law of Moses looked forward to their life in the promised land, and it taught them how to make use of the bounty that would be available to them.
As the Law clearly stated the way Israel was to use bountiful harvests, the Lord continued to remind His people of who He is and of their own past. Instead of squeezing every possible bit of profit from their fields and orchards and vineyards, the Lord's people were commanded to make that bounty available to others, giving opportunities to those of lesser means.
The Lord is not the God of selfish productivity. He is the God of compassion and grace.