Do not take a pair of millstones—not even the upper one—as security for a debt, because that would be taking a person’s livelihood as security. – Deuteronomy 24:6

Today's Scripture Reading (March 12, 2025): Deuteronomy 24

It can be found in the opening scene of the animated Christmas movie, “The Star.” The viewer is introduced to two of the main characters: Dave, a dove with an attitude voiced by comedian Keegan Michael-Key, and his best friend, Boaz, a donkey with a dream voiced by actor Steven Yeun. As the story opens, only Dave is free; Boaz is a captive and tied to a millstone in a barn. The idea of a millstone is that it grinds the wheat, allowing the flour to be separated from the husk, and then the flour can be collected at the edges of the stone. Millstones come in pairs. The bottom millstone is fixed and stationary. The upper millstone is made to rotate on top of the bottom, stationary stone. 

In the movie, Boaz’s captivity includes being tied to a millstone and forced to walk in a circle as the upper millstone grinds the wheat on the lower stone, making flour for Boaz’s owner. But Bo dreams of a day when he and Dave can quite literally escape the grind and join the Royal Caravan. Spoiler alert: Bo and Dave do escape the grind but become part of a very different Royal journey with a rather unamused Joseph, who thinks Boaz is relatively useless, and a caring and very pregnant Mary. Boaz still dreams of the Royal Caravan, but as he realizes who the baby is, Bo becomes aware that he has carried the Son of God on his back. Bo also realizes there is no place the clumsy donkey would rather be than with Mary and her baby. 

Millstones are not something we are acquainted with in our contemporary society but have been common throughout history. Sometimes, donkeys like Boaz, oxen, or some other beasts of burden were used to rotate the upper stone in the process. At other times, the task was given to servants or enslaved people. In each circumstance, the task was necessary to provide the flour needed to create the food the people needed to eat. 

Moses instructs Israel that if someone comes to you for a loan, you can take something as a pledge or collateral that ensures the person intends to repay the loan. But the Bible says that the things that could be taken as collateral must be unessential possessions, things not needed for day-to-day life. The list of things essential to life that could not be taken as collateral included the millstones, or even just the upper millstone which would likely be easier to remove than the bottom or fixed millstone. The problem was that even if just the upper millstone were missing, the person would not be able to make the flour needed to provide food for the family. God’s intention is that we should never take advantage of people going through rough times. When you loan someone money, the biblical instruction is to never take advantage of them. You should also not make them feel guilty because they owe you money. If God has given you the ability to help, then help and give God the praise for allowing you to be of service. Because, in the end, it all belongs to him anyway.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 25