loaned to them, no interest could be charged (Lev. 25:35-37), nor could the creditor hold as security any property

that was essential to the borrower (Exod. 22:25-27). Another source of assistance occurred every seventh year

which was a `Sabbath' for the soil, giving it rest enabling it to `recharge' itself. What grew `of its own accord' was

not to be gathered by the owner, but left specially for the poor and even the animals of the field.

The Word of God makes it quite clear throughout that the Lord is deeply concerned for the fatherless, the widow

and the poor generally. Moreover the kingdom of God on earth stressed the material well-being of its subjects in

many other ways `That it may go well with thee' is a phrase that occurs a number of times and is invariably

associated with physical benefits as in Deuteronomy 4:40, `that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth', which

makes it quite clear that this cannot refer to any future spiritual blessing in heaven.

God promised Israel exceptional fruitfulness from their fields and the increase of their flocks of cattle. For the

land was one which `the Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the

beginning of the year, even unto the end of the year' (Deut. 11:12). `There shall not be male or female barren among

you, or among your cattle' (Deut. 7:13,14), and such blessings have been an experience unknown in any other

nation. Even when Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness through their unbelief and disobedience, God still

provided for all their needs in the miraculous gift day by day of the manna from heaven (Exod. 16:35). Nor did it

cease until they actually entered the promised land (Josh. 5:12). Water was also provided miraculously (Exod.

15:23-25). During this long period in a desert when it would have been impossible to replace clothing, the Lord

miraculously saw to it that neither their clothing or shoes wore out for 40 years (Deut. 8:4; 29:3-5). Nehemiah later

on wrote that during the wilderness journey, Israel lacked nothing (Neh. 9:21).

Another extremely important matter was the question of health and this was all the more pressing when

travelling in adverse conditions through a hot desert. The nation had not moved more than three days through this

territory before God promised `I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians,

for I am the Lord Who healeth thee' (Exod. 15:26). Later at Mount Sinai the Lord said, `I will take sickness away

from the midst of thee' (Exod. 23:25) and subsequently, when the people came to the borders of the promised land,

the promise was repeated, `the Lord will take away from thee all sickness' (Deut. 7:15).

This being so, it can be understood that, being protected from the ravages of disease the span of life could be

lengthened and obedience to the law made this certain, `Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath

commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy

God giveth thee' (Deut. 5:16). It must be emphasised here that `living' in connection with keeping the law, always

referred to physical life and never to eternal life after death. In no way did the Old Testament teach that eternal life

could be secured by keeping the law or by works or merit of any kind and thus it was not contrary to the teaching to

be given later in the New Testament on this vital subject. When we realise the importance that God places on health

in the outworking of His kingdom on earth we can begin to appreciate why healing took such a prominent place in

the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus to Israel when, as He declared, the kingdom was near. This healing ministry

continued during the Acts period, through the ministry of the apostles to the same people of Israel who were so

closely linked by the Lord in the establishing of His kingdom on earth.

Coming to other matters which affected the lives of God's earthly people, we note as a general principle that the

benefits which were divinely conferred on them demanded some effort on the part of man. Thus the manna from

heaven had to be gathered daily according to instructions, for the wisdom of God does not encourage laziness.

Regarding the productivity of the land `which flowed with milk and honey' while, as we have seen, this was

specially given by the Lord, yet normal care and wisdom had to be exercised, so that its productivity might be

In their warfare, if it was necessary to force an entrance through gates or walls, no tree that produced food was

allowed to be cut down (Deut. 20:19,20). In hunting birds, only the young could be taken from the nest, the mother

must always be spared (Deut. 22:6,7). This ensured the perpetuation of the species, and as we have seen before, the

land must lay fallow for one year out of every seven for its regeneration and future fertility (Lev. 25:4).

In other respects the matchless wisdom of God is seen operating for the well-being of His earthly kingdom and

the subjects of it. Specially relating to rest and relaxation were laws given so that physical and mental health would

be constantly enjoyed. God's promise of freedom from disease was nevertheless to be accompanied by wise living.