“And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail” – Deut. 28:12b-13a
Common (Mis)usage:
When improperly used, many Christians believe these verses are meant to communicate their more prosperous standing in the earth. That one will “lend […and] not borrow” suggests wealth due to being in the position to lend rather than a need to borrow. The idea of being the “head and not the tail” suggests leadership and superiority, as the imagery of the “head” of an animal shows direction, sensibility, and vision and a lack of those capabilities with the “tail.”
Basic Context & Meaning:
Deuteronomy 28 is often misunderstood by some groups for a few core reasons. Namely, there’s often a failure to recognize the intention of the book and that of chapter 28. First, neither the book nor the chapter is a prophecy. The fact that Moses communicates future consequences does not make it prophecy. As a preacher once expressed, this is akin to a father telling his son if the trash isn’t taken out and his room isn’t clean, the son will be unable to play video games or go out with his friends. Such a declaration would not be construed as prophetic but a warning to encourage the son to do what’s right to avoid negative consequences.
Second and with the understanding that it isn’t prophecy, the message is not written to Christians nor does the message have a universal Christian scope. The “you” here is actually ancient Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It is not God’s people throughout eternity. This is a key element to remember.
In reality, this chapter and verse communicates the blessings and curses of obedience and disobedience to God, respectively (i.e., benefits and negative consequences of each). Moses is sharing various covenantal stipulations with Israel prior to entering the Promised Land (Canaan). These were serious warnings with real consequences, whether good or bad. If Israel obeyed the Law (Torah), then they would experience blessings, like being “[lending] to many nations” and “not [borrowing]” or being “the head and not the tail.” Israel would flourish as a people and reign over others in the land.
Suggested Usage/Application:
The application for Christians is vast, but that doesn’t mean we should read “you shall lend” or “the LORD will make you” as an expression written to Christians. Reading this part of Deuteronomy with the fuller picture of the rest of the Old Testament Scriptures should remind Christians that God is serious about His word and what He says. He is faithful. He doesn’t merely commit to bringing Israel into the land that He promised, He plans to sustain them in it as they obey His word.
Moreover, from this passage and as a general life application, Christians should note that obedience to God yields blessings while disobedience breeds difficulty and negative consequences. God, as sovereign and providential Creator, is able to cause all manner of blessing and chastisement to bend towards His creation.