In our last lesson we discussed the passage in Deuteronomy 15 which spoke of how God’s economy in the new and promised land would allow people who were in debt to become debt-free every seven years
This Year of Release that occurred shadowed the forgiveness of sins that we have now experienced through Yeshua, Our Savior; in that all debts of the sins of mankind (no matter how great or small) were relieved across the land. Those who could not finish paying their debts were totally forgiven every seven years. This is an example to us of the grace of God.
WHAT BECAME OF FAMILY SLAVES
Today we will discuss what happened to slaves in that same economy.
We are continuing on through Deuteronomy 15 with comments about the passages toward the middle and end of the chapter.
In those days the only people who were slaves were the people who had fallen into debt that could not be repaid. Other servants, often foreigners, were paid wages and contracted for three years only then moved on. The Israeli people though would offer their services as a slave to the person they owed a debt if they could not repay the debt.
The great thing about doing this is that ANY debt for ANY Israelite person had to be relieved every seven years; so, the person who had become a slave unexpectedly always knew how many years they had left to continue being a slave; no matter how large or small the debt.
Knowing when the slavery would end provided hope and light at the end of the tunnel for those who had fallen into desperate need and probably emotional stress and despair.
NO MISERY SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN SEVEN YEARS
No one was supposed to be bound to any debt or time of slavery that is over seven years.
This rule only applied to true Israelites. You could still demand the full amount of any debt you loaned to a foreigner; but to an Israelite (your brother); you were supposed to forget the debt if it was not all repaid by the seventh year.
It will be noted here that only true Israelites keep Sabbath and Sabbath is the reason for the release of debt and bondage. None of God’s people will be collecting wages as they let the land and the people have a sabbath rest.
On the other hand, the foreigner who doesn’t keep God’s ways will be working and not paying attention to Sabbath. They will have money and therefore; no need of release from debt or slavery.
The whole idea behind debt forgiveness is all tied to obedience to God and keeping of Sabbath.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND KEEPING SABBATH
No matter how much money you had coming in or going out in this economy; God would always bless those that obeyed Him and His commandments so much that they would want for nothing.
When you let your slaves go free; you were not to send them off empty handed. They were to be able to take food and provisions from your household as gifts that would get them through until they could find a job making wages that would provide for themselves and their families.
If you gifted one of your slaves with such provisions you should not begrudge the expense of it; but you should be happy and rejoice in your former slave’s new found freedom. Be thankful that you were able to help them and wish them well in the future.
God’s economy is really all about freedom.
When we take our freedom for granted and we overspend; we abuse our freedom and we have to make our best effort to pay our debts; but mistakes along the way should not keep a person from being free forever.
GOD’S PEOPLE VALUE THEIR FREEDOM
The time in slavery should help those who might have been careless to appreciate and value their freedom more. When early release comes, even before the debt is paid; thankfulness to the former master and to God is also in order.
The whole society enjoys this concept of freedom and thanksgiving together.
It is good for fellowship and bonding with one’s neighbor. You never know when the shoe might be on the other foot and the one that you have released will need to be merciful and gracious to you.
LEND AS NEEDED
There is an old saying “never a borrower or lender be” but this passage says if you meet someone who needs your help that you should not refuse it. Go ahead and lend them what they need if you have it, even if it is in the sixth of the seven years; God will make up to you what the debtor in need cannot pay.
We must be all about helping one another in God’s Kingdom.
God commands us to help the poor. He also says that there will always be poor among us. Verse 11 in this 15th Chapter of Deuteronomy tells us: For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore; I command thee, saying; Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
The verse seems to be saying to us that the poor of our own land should be preferred over the poor of another land. When our country experiences no poor; we can freely help other countries provide for their poor. We should never be the reason for the increase of the number of poor in our land; we should always be causing a steady decrease to happen and it should be more and more as time moves on.
OBEDIENCE BRINGS PLENTY
In this chapter it is promised that the obedient will always have plenty. That means if a country living under God’s ways is ALWAYS COMPLETELY obedient to them; there will not be one poor person left living in that country.
Can you imagine ever coming to this point with any of the world’s countries today?
Every country should take hold of this word and live it out to the fullest. Strange as it may sound; It is entirely possible that if this should happen, we could actually end all poverty on the earth.
It seems that becoming rich and abundant is more about obeying God’s commands than accumulating money in the bank. Now that is a new and different concept for being successful.
This is a concept that God promises to honor. Deuteronomy 15:6 spells it out for us:
For the Lord your God will make you great, as he has promised. You will lend money to the people in many countries, but they will not lend money to you. You will rule many people, but no one will rule you.
It is almost like God is saying “Go ahead, try Me with this promise; prove for yourselves that I always keep my word.”
REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE IN BONDAGE IN EGYPT
Why does God think like this?
Some of it has to do with the fact that God’s people were once slaves themselves. They would know and remember what it was like to leave with nothing and to have to start all over again. It is very hard and any help is always much appreciated. They would remember how gracious God was in helping them to survive and escape slavery.
God doesn’t want His people to forget the terrors of bondage; because by remembering they can rejoice in the abundance of the new promised land. Remembering the past will help them to want to be kinder and more generous to others; because they had once stood in such a place and know and understand what it is like.
However, it wasn’t really about relieving debt; it was about giving the land a Sabbath rest every seventh and fiftieth year. If no one had any debts at the start of the Sabbath year; it would be easier to survive that year without any wages, as the whole land would be on a year-long Sabbath. This allows the grounds to lie fallow and become enriched and not depleted, and it also allows laborers to rest and relax from their labors and concentrate on more spiritual endeavors for one year out of seven.
ALL RICHES COME FROM GOD
When the people keeping Sabbath DO concentrate on the more spiritual things though; the rich are encouraged to give; both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
For example; we can read in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;” “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
I look around the world today and see many, many rich and famous men who are donating money to causes that seem righteous but in the end are self-serving; not truly designed to help their neighbor as presented to the public; but designed to make the already rich investor grow even richer; and/or give themselves a tax break that they do not deserve.
Friends; be careful of those who say they are using their money to do good to the world; for they have an agenda you might not understand. Often it is wicked and evil and will not actually improve the condition of the world at all. Those who truly desire to do good usually do not shout out their causes on the street corners, but go silently about the business of helping others.
On the other hand, there are those who ARE blessed with wealth who ARE out there quietly doing great things; things which God approves of and is happy for them to do. Look for these fellows when the Pulitzer’s and the Oscar’s are handed out; for they are often hidden quietly among the humble.
BOND SERVANTS MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES
Let’s go back to thinking about the specifics of ancient slavery though.
In some special cases there could be servants with Masters that are so good to them that they do not ever want to leave. These servants have become as close as family members and are loved in the same way.
Abraham’s servant Eliezer could be considered a servant in this category. He was prosperous and could have left Abraham at any point; but he chose to stay with him and he was treated like an honored son. Everyone knew that he would have given his life for Abraham, should that be necessary.
Then again, some people simply need a leader to guide them; to help them to be able to find their way in this world. They are afraid of stepping out and making huge mistakes. Such people often prefer the less-stressful life of a servant. These people often feel safe and protected and provided for with their Masters and they realize that the ordinary things they do pleases this Master.
Such as these would dread starting over new, somewhere else with another yet unproven Master. They might ask to stay in the current situation and want to continue to serve their present Master instead of trying to take on the world by themselves.
BOND-SERVANTS ARE MARKED SO THE WORLD WILL RECOGNIZE THEM
God gave a rule for when this happened.
A sharp piercing was to be made through the slave’s earlobe as it was placed over the doorpost of the Master’s house. This would signify to everyone who was curious that this person had deliberately decided to stay and continue to serve their Master; even after the debt was paid, even for the rest of their lives.
This type of servant was called a “bond-servant.” The mark on their person identified them as voluntary slaves of one Master for life. The identity of a bond-servant is just like the circumcision of our hearts which identifies those who have willingly chosen to follow Christ and live in God’s Kingdom forever. They belong to one Master forever and that Master of the Universe is God.
When we hear of the piercing; we can’t help but think of the nail pierced hands and feet of Christ.
A true bond-servant is going to be using his hands and feet to accomplish whatever is needed for the Master’s household.