In Exodus 21 we have the first of many detailed laws that were to govern the civic life of the Israelites. They were now becoming a nation so they needed a law that would be recognisable and effective in their context. These civil laws are not given to provide a final ideal portrait of justice. They provided one big step towards a better type of community life. Neither are they exhaustive, covering every possible situation. Rather they are paradigmatic applications of the principles of the moral law to that time and place. A good question to ask of any of the civil laws of the Old Testament is, ‘Whose rights are being protected here?’ In the case of laws about servants here in 21:1-11 it is the right of bond-slaves. Many Old Testament laws are complicated by the fact that the situation they pertain to is a bad situation in the first place and hence the law is making the best of an already deplorable situation (so in dealing with slavery the Bible is not condoning slavery as an ideal). In the ancient Near East slaves were often treated like animals. This law ensures that human dignity is preserved and that slaves are still awarded certain basic human rights. God wants us to treat people in ways that honour their inherent dignity as children of God. Whether you like a person or not, honour them as sacred. This is what it means to love others: to honour them as sacred children of God. As we do this, they might even come to believe this about themselves.
Prayerfully consider how you will be involved in this area of God’s agenda.
Read Exodus 21:1-11
