Jewish tradition tackles this head-on, and a fascinating passage in Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the book of Deuteronomy, offers some pretty profound answers.
The verse we're looking at is Deuteronomy 15:14: "wherewith the L-rd your G-d has blessed you shall you give him." Seems straightforward, right? But the rabbis of the Sifrei dig deeper. One might think, "Okay, I'll only give if my own house is blessed because of this person in need." If things are going well for me because of them, then I’ll give. But if not? Maybe not so much.
The Sifrei Devarim immediately shuts that down. It states bluntly: "Bestow shall you bestow upon him" — in any event. In other words, you give regardless. Period. No conditions attached. But then, what's the point of the first part of the verse, "wherewith the L-rd your G-d has blessed you shall you give him"? If we give no matter what, does the amount we have matter?
Here's where it gets really interesting. The Sifrei explains: "The bestowal is in proportion to the blessing." Ah, so it's not about whether you give, but how much. The more you have been blessed, the more you are expected to give. It's a sliding scale of responsibility.
But the Sifrei doesn’t stop there! It connects this idea to the Exodus from Egypt – the foundational story of Jewish peoplehood. Deuteronomy 15:15 reminds us: "And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt." This isn't just a historical footnote; it's a call to empathy, a reminder of our own vulnerability and dependence on divine grace.
The Sifrei interprets this verse in light of our obligation to give, saying, "I bestowed upon you (the spoils of Egypt upon your leaving Egypt), and again (at the splitting of the sea) — so, you bestow upon him (once) and then, again.” Just as God gave to us, and gave abundantly, so too should we give. The message? Mimic God's generosity.
And it paints a vivid picture of that divine generosity. "Just as in Egypt I bestowed upon you with a lavish hand, so, you." Think about it: the Israelites left Egypt not just freed from slavery, but laden with riches! The Sifrei then brings in poetic imagery to further illustrate this point.
It quotes Psalm 68:14: "Even for those of you who lie among the sheepfolds, there are wings of a dove sheathed in silver." According to the Sifrei, this refers to "the spoils of Egypt." And "its pinions of fine gold" refers to "the spoils of the sea" - the riches gained at the splitting of the Red Sea.
The Sifrei continues with a quote from Song of Songs 1:11: "Wreaths of gold shall we make for you" — "the spoils of the sea;" "with spangles of silver" — "the spoils of Egypt." These weren't just trinkets; they were transformative acts of generosity that redefined the Israelites' identity. From slaves to a people blessed with abundance.
So, what does all this mean for us today? It's a powerful reminder that giving isn't just a nice thing to do; it's a fundamental obligation rooted in our history and our relationship with the Divine. It's about recognizing the blessings we've received and sharing them with others, proportionally and generously. It's about remembering our own past vulnerability and acting with compassion. It's about striving to emulate God's own lavish generosity.
And maybe, just maybe, by giving in proportion to our blessings, we can help create a world where everyone has enough. A world where those who lie among the sheepfolds also have wings of gold and silver.