There are a number of books within the canon that believers pay zero attention to such as Nahum, Titus, Joel, Philemon. There are also books we avoid at all costs such as Revelation(not Revelations) and Numbers. But within these books are mysteries, stories, answers that still apply and require attention. Most of them, once you dig a little bit and filter it through, speak directly to the current times.

The book of Leviticus or Wayyiqrā ʾ (“and he called” or “the Lord summoned Moses”) is one of these neglected books. Why? It interrupts the overall story of the Pentateuch, and the majority of the contents on sacrificial offering/worship are so far removed from us. Yet, since God is the divine author this book which was important to the Israelites still has things to say to us. It’s a book with themes on Holiness, Priesthood, and Cleanliness. Plenty of enrichment I could detail out in future posts, but for now I’d like to highlight a theme that will always be looked over……….how to treat others. The reason I saw this is due to the rumors of a recession (stock market is currently nose diving). Now to be honest I don’t care, there will always be rumor, but just in case we do see one, I believe God showed me how as believers we can survive. And many may not like it. See below.

Take a look at Leviticus 49:25-27:47 NASB ‘Now if the [a]means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a [b]countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family, (48) then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, (49) or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or [c]if he prospers, he may redeem himself.

Now I know what you’re thinking…………”sold” jumps out at you. But the word slave or being sold was different back in the ancient Middle East to an extent. There were rules in place throughout the Torah that prevented exploitation, ruthlessness, lack of care and empathy. To sell yourself or to be sold meant a person would offer their services to someone in order to pay off debts, or earn an income. Slaves were freed every jubilee year (what people don’t talk about), they were allowed to own land and prosper among other things. To be a “slave” was the equivalent of working a 9 to 5. Why? people have bills to pay, folks had debts, folks lost alot. If anything God reminded them they were slaves in the most negative way in Egypt and gave laws so that Israel wouldn’t turn into their former masters [Deuteronomy 15:15]. Remember the law was given so that Israel knew how to interact with one another, God, and how to not act like their national neighbors.

But anyway look at verse 48-49. Notice how the law was that Brothers, Uncles, and close relatives had the opportunity to redeem an individual that became poor. God was concerned about folks money, and put the responsibility of the ones closest to you to provide for you. Why? Moral kinship and good will is very important to God, and in order to unify the nation it mattered that the ones in the nation and closest to you cared for you, especially if they had the means to do so. This is why Boaz was able to take Naomi and Ruth out of their lack, serving as a Goel (kinsman-redeemer).

This combats selfishness, something the culture currently promotes. The culture now wants you to gain all you can and hoard from others, the culture wants you to say “their fall isn’t my problem”, “they broke”, “they probably on drugs”, when in all actuality many people fall into poverty for different reasons.

For example, the reasons individuals in Israel were in debt were due to calamities, status, physical/mental illness and debts based off crimes. Majority of the regions of the bible, such as Mesopotamia, The Coastal Plains, The Jordan Rift, The Transjordan Highlands were prone to external threats. Women back in ancient middle eastern days had security in marriage, so to be widowed or single meant you were looked over. People were born with defects. Others were injured in wars. Others committed crimes or took loans they couldn’t pay back. All this still goes on today in different ways and it matters to God. So how do you combat poverty as a whole and the eventual recessions were many may lose everything? Give……………I wrote this to simply say give to those around you. Be a blessing. Not just because you want a reward in return, but it’s the right thing to do. That’s morality, that’s what’s good. Doing the right thing. Is it not hard on the heart to see somebody you know struggling???? Does that not move you to act???? I pray it does.