Slavery is one of the worst evils of human history and evolution. Its practice is traceable to the satanic desire to control, dominate, and subjugate another person to the whims and caprices of his powerful lord. Because guidelines were given in the Old Testament on how to treat Jewish slaves, many have come to wonder how God could endorse such barbarism and atrocity. Unknown to many, slavery has never been the will of God, nor can it ever be.

The guidelines were given to protect slaves under circumstances where this is already in practice and unavoidable. It is reminiscent of the guidelines God gave on divorce and remarriage. The Lord Jesus made it clear in the gospels that divorce was never the will of God but provisions were made to protect female divorcees because of the hardness of heart of the men who would send their wives parking regardless of whether God wanted it or not. It is a case of managing an already bad situation.

There is nothing in God’s original plan of dominion for man in Genesis 1.26 that gave room for the dominion of one human over another. It is clear that it was a dominion over the planet Earth. It was always God’s plan that there be a healthy interdependence among us as humans. A misinterpretation of headship and submission is the reason for male domination in marriage. Notice that it was after the fall of man that human domination resulted from the entrance of sin. The desire of the woman to control her husband and his rulership over her were both results of sin and not part of the perfection of creation before the fall of man.

“Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain, you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬.

In Deuteronomy 15, God, through Moses, gave guidelines that included the fact that slave ownership should be limited to seven years. Because God redeemed Israel from Egypt by His mighty power, He was the true owner of everyone, including the slave owner. The redemption of Israel foreshadowed that of all humanity by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are bought with a price and so is all of humanity. We lack the right to claim ownership of anyone else. God owns us all.

Jewish slaves became so mostly due to poverty. People chose to serve others for food and shelter. Like the story of the son of the prophet who left unpaid debt for his wife at his demise in 2 Kings 4, people used their sons as collateral for loans. The creditor came to claim the two boys belonging to the woman and she ran to Elisha the prophet. But for the miracle of the pot of oil, the two boys would have been taken away. It was under such circumstances that Jews were enslaved in their nation. The practice of capturing people and exporting them in chains as were wickedly done in recent world history, particularly in Africa by Europeans, was utterly detested under the Law of Moses and was to be grievously punished with death.

“He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.”‭‭Exodus‬ ‭21‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.

As God regulated the practice of slavery among His people under the Old Testament, He demanded that after six years of service, the slaves were to be released but not empty-handed. They were to be released under circumstances that would end their slavery. They were to be so materially supported that they had a fresh start in life. From the three main products of their trade in the then predominantly agrarian society, surplus supply was to be made to the released slave so he could get into business again. Moreover, he would have gained better business skills and valuable experience from his master.

“And when you send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed; you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and your winepress. From what the Lord your God has blessed you with, you shall give to him.”‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.

Surprisingly, however, some slaves refused freedom because they were not treated as slaves and were won over by the love, kindness, and generosity of their masters. Such slaves chose to remain with their masters for life. They contrasted the lives of the freed with what they enjoyed in their masters’ houses and figured they were better off remaining. They willingly pledged their lives in loving service to their masters in response to the masters’ kindness. They were no longer slaves captured by money and human oppression, they were captured by love.

They were referred to as love slaves (Exodus 21.5-6). By the revelation of Jesus Christ to Paul the Apostle, He prided Himself as a bondslave of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1, Titus 1:1). He was not alone, James who even shared the same mother with Jesus Christ made the same claim (James 1:1). Peter did the same (2 Peter 1:1) and so did Jude who was also a younger brother of the Lord (Jude 1:1). What made them enjoy the appellation? It was nothing but the revelation of the love of God to them. In response to the love that compelled the Lord Jesus to lay aside His glory in heaven and identify with our common humanity, subject Himself to the gruesome trail and death by crucifixion, endure three days in the underworld before resurrecting to new life, the early church fathers pleaded their lives in total consecration to the service of our Lord.

“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

APPLICATIONS

1. I WILLINGLY RELINQUISH MY RIGHTS TO MY OWN LIFE AND SURRENDER IT TO GOD.
2. I NOW LIVE TO PLEASE GOD AND NOT MYSELF.
3. I COMMIT TO GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE.
4. I TRUST THAT BOTH IN LIFE AND DEATH, GOD’S PLAN FOR ME IS THE BEST. I TRUST THE PROCESS OF HIS PLAN.
5. I COMMIT TO DOING ALL I CAN TO BRING OTHERS INTO ENCOUNTERS WITH THE LOVE OF GOD. In conclusion, I join others to embrace the title of a bond slave. May Christ do with my life all that He pleases and use it for His own glory.

Victor Adeyemi