Deuteronomy 15:7-8
“If there is with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; but you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants.”
This passage is part of Moses' instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land. It lays out principles for how their new society should function, emphasizing justice, community responsibility, and care for the vulnerable among them.
what responsibilities do we hold, as individuals and as communities, when confronting ongoing poverty and needs?