In Exodus 21 we have the first of many detailed laws that were to govern the life of the Israelites. It is important that we know how to read these laws. These laws are the specific application of the ethical principles contained in the ten commandments to the life of God’s people at that time in history. While they may not apply to us in their specifics, we must nevertheless recognise the principles underlying these laws. It is these principles that we must then apply to our lives. The laws about servants in 21:1-11 is a good initial example. A good question to ask of any of the civil laws of the Old Testament is, ‘Whose rights are being protected here?’ In this case, 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 is very interested in human rights. There are many places in the world today where people are treated like animals and sometimes worse. There are many organisations that are working hard to remedy this situation. Make sure that you support this endeavour however you can for, according to the Bible, it is an agenda that God is very interested in.
Prayerfully consider how you will be involved in this area of God’s agenda.
Read Exodus 21:1-11
