It’s all about how we interact, how we support each other, and what happens when that balance is disrupted.
Consider this: the Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus, delves into the verse "You shall not be as a creditor to him" (Exodus 22:24). It kicks off with a quote from Psalms: "It is good for a man to be gracious and to lend, conducting his affairs with justice" (Psalms 112:5). But what does that really mean?
The midrash, the interpretive tradition, takes us on a whirlwind tour of the cosmos. Come and see, it says, how everything borrows from everything else! The day borrows from the night, and the night from the day. As it says in Psalms, "Day to day gives utterance; [night to night renders understanding]" (Psalms 19:3). The moon borrows from the stars, and the stars from the moon. The light borrows from the sun, and the sun borrows from the light. Isn't that amazing? Even wisdom and understanding need each other, borrowing from one another to function, as Proverbs puts it: “Say to wisdom: You are my sister, [and call understanding an acquaintance]” (Proverbs 7:4). And even the heavens and the earth are in on this cosmic exchange.
It paints a picture of perfect harmony. Everything in creation is interconnected, in a constant state of reciprocal exchange. And here's the kicker: all of this happens silently, peacefully. No lawsuits, no arguments, just a natural flow. Yet, we humans? We borrow from each other, and too often, the lender seeks to "swallow" the borrower with interest and greed.
The midrash then imagines those who exploit others through lending with interest, daring to question God: "Why do You not exact payment from Your world...?" It’s a bold, almost blasphemous claim! God's response is powerful: "See how much I have lent, but I do not take interest." God gives life, sustains the world, but asks for no financial return. Instead, "I take the principal that I lent and it takes its own," a reference to the eventual return of the soul and body to their source, as Ecclesiastes reminds us: “The dust will return to the earth as it was; and the spirit will return to God who provided it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
The text pulls no punches: "Woe is he who takes interest." Ezekiel is even more direct: “He gave with usury and took interest, shall he live? He shall not live” (Ezekiel 18:13).
To illustrate this point, the midrash tells a parable of a king who opens his storehouse to someone. Instead of using this gift wisely, the man torments the poor, mistreats widows, and fills the storehouse with deceit. Sounds familiar, right? The Holy One, blessed be He, gives us resources—our talents, our wealth—but when we use them to exploit others, we are betraying the divine gift.
The text continues, driving home the point with vivid imagery. The lender who takes advantage of the poor mocks God. He strips the naked, performs villainy, and turns truth into deceit. God's warning echoes through the ages: “Woe is to you who pillages and you were not pillaged” (Isaiah 33:1).
So, what's the takeaway? The Torah cautions us: "If you lend money to My people..." (Exodus 22:24). If they can't repay, so be it. Let it suffice that God calls them wicked. Be like God, who lends without interest. Be gracious, be kind, be just. Remember, “The wicked one borrows and does not repay; the righteous one is gracious and gives” (Psalms 37:21).
And it ends with a powerful reminder: If you take your neighbor's garment as collateral, return it before sunset. Why? "It will be when he cries to Me, [I will hear, as I am gracious]" (Exodus 22:26). God hears the cries of the oppressed. God sees the suffering. And God will fight for those who are treated unjustly, as Proverbs says: “For the Lord will fight their battle and will deprive those who deprive them of life” (Proverbs 22:23).
This ancient text challenges us to examine our relationships, our financial dealings, and our very understanding of how the world works. Are we contributing to the cosmic harmony, or are we disrupting it with greed and exploitation? It’s a question worth pondering, isn't it?