Debt Was Just the Beginning

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Debt Was Just the Beginning

By Justin Ziolkowski

Financial issues will somehow arise.  We, individually, may go through seasons in which we do not make enough money between rent, bills, and other expenses.  An emergency, or some other urgent matter, may occur and we feel like we are trying to catch up.  Countries go through financial difficulty as well.  In the 1930s, the United States was going through the Great Depression.  In 2010, Greece declared bankruptcy.  The Jews in Jerusalem were not immune to this either.

During Nehemiah’s time, the Jews had been returning to Jerusalem for many years.  Although they were free, their economy had not recovered since they were taken captive by Babylon.  But this was only the beginning of the problem.  The Jews returning from exile had three prominent matters at hand:

1) There was a famine (Nehemiah 5:3) causing a lack in food.  People had to mortgage their property just to eat.

2) There was a heavy tax enacted by King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 5:4).  So heavy, that people had to borrow money to pay it.

3) The wealthiest among the Jews were charging excessive interest rates (Nehemiah 5:5) and problems grew greater when the borrower could not repay the lender.  Land and crops were repossessed, and children were taken as slaves.

The reaction of Nehemiah was that of righteous anger.  Up until now, many of the issues he had dealt with were from outsiders; now he must regulate on his own people.  Nehemiah could not control the weather, so not much he could do about the famine.  No way was he going to be able to confront the king regarding taxation.  But he can act on the lending practices within his people.  Not only were they taking advantage of the misfortune of their brothers and sisters; they were breaking their Law. 

If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him (Exodus 22:25 ESV). 

You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest.  You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your brother interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. (Deuteronomy 23:19-20 ESV)

From these two passages we can gather two things; that the Jews were not to charge interest to those in need, and that they were not to charge other Jews interest.  Clearly, both regulations were being sidestepped.  Nehemiah’s reaction was not passive.  He had three charges against them:

1) He exposed the illegal interest that was being charged (Nehemiah 5:7).

2) He reminded them of the effort that he and others have taken to free indentured Jews and exposed the illegal practice of Jews were being sold into permanent slavery to foreigners (Nehemiah 5:8).

3) He reminded them of what God has done for them and their people, and that they are to live by a different calling that fears God (Nehemiah 5:9).

Not only did Nehemiah bring the wrongdoings to light, but he also implemented correction.  In doing so, he models a godly leader. 

1) He was determined to stop the injustice happening (Nehemiah 5:10).

2) Make specific plans to correct the action, regardless of what it takes (Nehemiah 5:11).

3) Declare the actions as a promise before God (Nehemiah 5:12).

4) Realize the seriousness of your promises (Nehemiah 5:13).

Let us remember that financial issues may have a plethora of outcomes or consequences, we cannot rely on illegal and immoral tactics to get ahead.  We must remember to rely on God; He has guided us through the wilderness before, He will do it again.

Note: Content from this devotional was borrowed heavily from Hand Me Another Brick by Charles Swindoll.