EXODUS 22
9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.– Exodus 22:9-15
EXODUS 22 ON BORROWING AND LENDING
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When one borrows something from someone
It is with care and respect that the borrower handles them
If the borrowed object was damaged by the borrower
Just compensation is expected if the damage was intentional.
In Proverbs 22:7, it says that the borrower is slave to the lender. There is truth to this because when we use someone else’s property, we ought to take care of it while we are using it. Same goes when we borrow money, we ought to responsibly pay it back. The lender must not enslave the borrower with very high interest rates if they are to honor the laws of the Lord. These laws teach us boundaries and how to honor other people’s possessions. It teaches us to be responsible for those things that do not belong to us and also to honor the oaths and agreements we take. Integrity is key in lending and borrowing. Ps 37:21 says “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” The word of God is clear that when something is borrowed it should be paid back. Someone refusing to repay manifests a wicked heart. God wants us to have a generous and giving heart.
REFLECTION
- How is it dangerous to lend something to someone wicked and untrustworthy?
