All humans are servants. The bible uses this analogy for our relationship with God. We are also God’s children and His bride. Those two analogies are much more popular in part because many of us have parent/sibling or husband/wife relationships that make it easier for us to relate to them. Even King/subject relationships are understandable though we don’t have much contact with royalty. However, when it comes to being a servant or slave we have a bit more trouble relating. We don’t have those human relationships to compare to. We even go as far as saying slavery is wrong. So, how can we make sense of this?
The first problem we have in North America is that our idea of slavery is dehumanizing. We think of the history of race based slavery on our continent and we rightfully find it sickening. We must remember that the biblical analogies were written in a different context. Here are some passages on slavery:
12 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. 13 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. 14 Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. 16 But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, 17 then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant. 18 Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because his service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:12-18 (NIV)
The first thing to notice is that you could sell yourself into slavery. Also the duration of service was set. This is a case of Hebrews being slaves for other Hebrews - there is no racism involved here.
Another aspect of slavery we don’t understand is that slaves were not necessarily powerless. Remember that Joseph was a slave to Pharaoh but was second in command in the country. His brothers who were “free” came basically begging for their lives from a slave. In the world of the bible, to be a slave of a good master was better than being a poor free person. A slave could have riches but he was still a slave. One thing is true though in our idea of slavery - a slave’s life is always in the hands of their master. A slave could be killed. However, this would be foolish of a master to do though. A master gained honour form having good slaves, just as a slave gained honour from their master.
The best analogy of us as God’s slaves is in verses 16-17 of the above chapter as we relate to those who said, “I do not want to leave you” because of their love for their master, his family while knowing they are better off with their master than free. Isn’t that true for us? We serve a good master. If someone was being served by a bondservant (those with the holes in their ears) that person would be easily identified as a good master. God is a good master and we have no choice but to be servants (see last blog). If we leave his service we will have to sell ourselves to an unworthy master.
I hope that helps and that the next time you come across that analogy in the Bible you will not be turned off but will feel honoured to be God’s servant.
Mark Wallace
The first problem we have in North America is that our idea of slavery is dehumanizing. We think of the history of race based slavery on our continent and we rightfully find it sickening. We must remember that the biblical analogies were written in a different context. Here are some passages on slavery:
12 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. 13 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. 14 Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. 16 But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, 17 then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant. 18 Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because his service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:12-18 (NIV)
The first thing to notice is that you could sell yourself into slavery. Also the duration of service was set. This is a case of Hebrews being slaves for other Hebrews - there is no racism involved here.
Another aspect of slavery we don’t understand is that slaves were not necessarily powerless. Remember that Joseph was a slave to Pharaoh but was second in command in the country. His brothers who were “free” came basically begging for their lives from a slave. In the world of the bible, to be a slave of a good master was better than being a poor free person. A slave could have riches but he was still a slave. One thing is true though in our idea of slavery - a slave’s life is always in the hands of their master. A slave could be killed. However, this would be foolish of a master to do though. A master gained honour form having good slaves, just as a slave gained honour from their master.
The best analogy of us as God’s slaves is in verses 16-17 of the above chapter as we relate to those who said, “I do not want to leave you” because of their love for their master, his family while knowing they are better off with their master than free. Isn’t that true for us? We serve a good master. If someone was being served by a bondservant (those with the holes in their ears) that person would be easily identified as a good master. God is a good master and we have no choice but to be servants (see last blog). If we leave his service we will have to sell ourselves to an unworthy master.
I hope that helps and that the next time you come across that analogy in the Bible you will not be turned off but will feel honoured to be God’s servant.
Mark Wallace
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