What does "leave them for the poor and the foreigner" teach us? Text of the Command “Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.” Why God Gave This Instruction • Establishes a built-in safety net so no one starves • Keeps landowners from squeezing every last profit out of the field • Teaches daily, visible compassion instead of occasional charity • Reminds Israel that “the earth is the LORD’s” (Psalm 24:1); they are stewards, not owners Values This Command Instills • Generosity—giving up what we could keep • Trust—believing God will replenish what we leave behind (Malachi 3:10) • Dignity—allowing the poor to gather food with their own hands (Ruth 2:2-3) • Inclusion—foreigners share in the harvest blessings (Exodus 23:9) • Justice—resources circulate beyond the powerful (Proverbs 29:7) What It Reveals About God’s Character • He defends the vulnerable (Psalm 68:5) • He expects His people to mirror His mercy (Micah 6:8) • He links worship with ethical living—“I am the LORD your God” closes the verse Practical Takeaways for Today • Build margin into budgets so there is always something to give • Design businesses and farms with community benefit in mind • Resist a hyper-efficiency mindset that forgets people • Invite immigrants, refugees, and the homeless to participate in society’s “harvest” (job opportunities, education, healthcare) • Remember: obedience displays faith more loudly than words (James 2:14-17) New Testament Echoes • Jesus’ disciples glean grain on the Sabbath—allowed by this very principle (Matthew 12:1-8) • “Whoever has two tunics must share with him who has none” (Luke 3:11) • Early church lays proceeds at the apostles’ feet so “there was no needy person among them” (Acts 4:34-35) • “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10) Living the Lesson Leaving the edges unharvested shows love in tangible form. God still calls His people to plan for generosity, open doors to outsiders, and trust His provision as we do. |
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