Deuteronomy 24:6
“No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.”
In this passage, the owner of the mill wants a loan. He is seeking to pawn the mill for it. This verse tells the financier not to do it. It’s like a fisherman pawning his nets or his boat. Those things are the means by which income is generated. To pawn them is too risky. It sounds like the individual has some sort of gamble that the money is needed immediately.
The mill and the boat generate income. However, to earn savings by working occurs slowly over time. It takes patience to earn money or to make purchases. Hard work and waiting for results is a sign of character growth.
Impatience and immaturity wants it now. It wants the purchase, it wants to be out of the financial difficulty. God is all about patience. He allows us to go through difficult times to teach it to us.
The oak tree consists of hard, strong wood. It is immovable to wind and storm. However, it’s strength came over time. The very winds that move it, caused the trunk to become resistant and the roots to grow more sure. God wants us to have this kind of patience. He wants to drive out the immediacy in us that is frustrated by waiting.
We need to trust Him for provision. The person in the passage wants it now. We aren’t to resort to foolish means for a resolution. The rashness of it should be a sign that we aren’t trusting.
Lord, thank You for the patience that You work in us. Help us to be patient in our circumstances. Thank You that You will provide.