Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 15: God commands open hands

Begin in prayer

Before hearing God’s commands about debts and freedom, let us ask Him for generous hearts. Pray that our family would understand His redeeming mercy and learn to care for people in need.

Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.

Psalm 41:1

Father in heaven, Your mercy reaches those who have nothing to repay You. Open our eyes to the needs around us and expose the selfishness that closes our hands. Show us the riches of grace in Jesus and teach His people joyful generosity. Please open our eyes as we read Your Word, make us more like Christ, and bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

At the end of every seven years, Israelite creditors must cancel the debts of their fellow Israelites. God’s promised blessing must encourage obedience, while the continuing presence of poor people calls for open hands. The approaching year of release must never become an excuse to refuse a needy neighbor. Hebrew men and women must be released after six years of service and supplied from the master’s abundance. A servant who chooses to remain may enter permanent service. The chapter ends with the dedication of firstborn animals and the rejection of defective sacrifices.

As you read Deuteronomy 15, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God redeems His people and commands generous mercy toward those in need.

At the end of every seven years Israel cancelled debts between brothers, because “Yahweh’s release has been proclaimed”. A lender might shut his hand as the year of release came near, and that was sin (verse 9). The poor would never cease from the land, so God's people must keep their hands open to them (verse 11). A Hebrew servant went free in the seventh year, and his master must give him gifts from flock, threshing floor and wine press. The reason is what God had done, for Moses says, “Yahweh your God redeemed you”. Israel had been slaves in Egypt, and the LORD set them free, so a freed people must free others with open hands. In the same way, Christ redeems His people from sin first, and then He teaches them to give.

How does Deuteronomy 15 show us that God redeems His people and commands generous mercy toward those in need?

God tells His people to give with open hands.

A lender might refuse help because the year of release is near. God calls that thought sinful and hears the poor person’s cry. His people must give with willing hearts and open hands.

God’s redemption teaches mercy.

Hebrew servants must receive freedom after six years. Their masters must send them away with gifts from what God has supplied. Remembering Egypt makes generous release a fitting response to God’s own redemption.

God deserves offerings that honor Him.

Firstborn males from the herd and flock belong to the LORD. God forbids working the firstborn cattle or shearing the firstborn sheep. Households must eat these offerings before Him each year at His chosen place. Animals with defects must not be sacrificed. Their meat may be eaten at home, with the blood poured out on the ground.

Memorise

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you.

Deuteronomy 15:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I keep my hand closed that I need Jesus to open?

The command rests on remembered mercy, “Yahweh your God redeemed you.” Those brought out of slavery must give freedom and provision to others. Their own rescue leaves no excuse for a hard heart toward the needy.

Jesus became poor so that His people might receive the riches of His grace. He gave His life for them, carrying their guilt to the cross. God raised Him up, and His finished work is enough to free sinners from condemnation and bring them forgiveness.

Turn from selfishness and come to Him. Anyone who trusts Christ is given mercy that cannot be bought. He gave Himself for His people, and He gives them His riches freely.

Parent's note

Tell your children why remembering God’s mercy should make His people generous. Help them consider a real need, while calling each child to receive salvation through Christ rather than trust charitable acts. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for redeeming mercy, and confess the closed hands exposed by the heart question. Every child can pray, so let each one ask for a generous heart.

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ;

1 Peter 1:18-19

Father in heaven, thank You that You redeemed Your people and are merciful to the needy. Forgive the selfish calculations that make us unwilling to help. Lead us to Jesus, whose grace brings freedom and forgiveness to those who trust Him. Teach His people to remember that mercy and give with willing hearts to neighbors in need. In Jesus' name, Amen.