It may surprise us to learn that verses 13 to 16 of Deuteronomy 25 talks about customer service. Simply put, in these verses, Moses tells the Israelites to not shortchange a buyer by using a smaller measure. This is like intentionally placing an inaccurate scale at the grocery store checkout or an inaccurate pump at a gas station or using inferior parts when a machine needs repair.
In verse 16, we read, “All who cheat. . . are detestable to the Lord.” The Hebrew word for “cheat” is `evel. It has the root meaning of acting wrongfully or unjustly. The Hebrew word for “detestable” is tow`ebah and it means something that makes a person feel extreme disgust.
Moses is telling the Israelites that when we try to shortchange our customers, God feels disgusted with us. God expects us to treat everyone He brings our way justly (Micah 6:8). If we do not treat people who pay us for our services justly, truthfully, or fairly, then we can be sure that we will treat those God brings our way in our family or friends circle unjustly, untruthfully, and unfairly.
