God's Heart for the Poor

God's rules taught people to respect what belongs to others. A thief had to pay back two times or more. If a man's animals ate in a neighbor's field, he paid from the best of his own field. If a fire spread, the one who started it paid for the damage. If someone borrowed an animal and it was hurt, he paid for it.

God said, You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. He said, You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. If they cried out to God, He would surely hear them.

If you lend money to a poor person, do not charge him interest. If you take his cloak as a promise that he will pay, give it back before the sun goes down. It is his only covering to sleep in. God said that when the poor person cries to Him, He will hear, because He is gracious. God also told His people to give Him the first of their harvest and to be holy people.