Day 421: Exodus 21- Catalyst of Confusion

“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.
12 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.
20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. 27 If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.
28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.31 If it gores a man's son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. 32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
Laws About Restitution
33 “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.
35 “When one man's ox butts another's, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. 36 Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

Meditation
Today’s reading is a classic catalyst of confusion for contemporary readers. Offering guidelines for slavery, archaic parenting advice, and very weird direction for animals, the chapter seems to totally lack social awareness for our contemporary culture. Is this evidence we do not need to trust and obey God’s word?

The giving of God’s law blesses His people who have just been redeemed and freed from slavery (see Exodus 20 meditation). The historical and cultural context of Israel often drives interpretation of the law. We must be careful we do not read scripture with cultural arrogance and lose appreciation for the astounding grace of God who reveals His design to create a community of redeemed people who are vehicles of redemption in the world.

Does God condone slavery? NO! The first-time slavery is mentioned in scripture is a curse (Genesis 9:25-27) and the crown jewel of Scripture’s abolitionist teaching is Philemon, a small epistle telling the story of a runaway slave named Onesimus who returned to the church, was restored, and was received as a brother on par with the apostle Paul Himself (Colossians 4:7-9; Philemon). In a Roman culture where legally Onesimus could be executed the Church was called to create a community where the institution of slavery could not survive. In Christ there is no slave or free (Galatians 3:28).

The regulations for slavery in Exodus 21 were given to a people seeing the cruelest versions of slavery. The countries Israel passed through in the wilderness, and would drive out in Canaan, treated slaves with destruction, purely as property. In Israel the economy was based on dignity for all people. Physical harm was not tolerated (21:26), worship of the Lord expected (12:44; Deuteronomy 16:11-14), Sabbath rest required (20:10), and legal rights for appeal (Job 31:13) and asylum (Deuteronomy 23:15-16) were established. Slavery was not justified but redefined to bring dignity where there was none. Is it culturally distant? For most people reading this article, yes. Is there still slavery today that needs to be abolished? Yes!

Did you know TODAY there are 40+ million people in slavery globally? More than any other time in history. For more information on modern day slavery and the work being done to end it in our lifetime you can visit IJM’s website. 
 
Yes, it is difficult to understand the agricultural, family, and economic regulations for the people of Israel that are the theme of our Scripture reading today. I cannot attempt to explain them all in this post. I will say there is only one worldview that roots reality in the dignity of all people, is woven with the fabric of freedom for all the world, that identifies the root cause of all of our social problems, and brings good news of the solution for all who believe… that is the worldview centered on God’s word and Jesus redemptive work on our behalf. 

Lord, we believe. Will you help us understand? Will You give us eyes to see the power of redemption, knowing your grace frees us from slavery of sin. Will you awaken us with your love to be determined to show your love and apply your redemption to bring freedom in our world? Lord Jesus, you came to give freedom to captives, restore sight to the blind, to cloth the naked, and liberate the poor. Too often we have allowed our cultural arrogance to blind us to what you are teaching and calling us to do, being more comfortable than confronting the evils of our society. Please forgive us and revive us to participate in your mission of redemptive restoration found in Jesus Christ alone. In His name I pray, AMEN.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Take time today to read more on modern day slavery and the part you can play to end it.
 
-Spend time in prayer for those on the frontline working to bring freedom and justice to the many enslaved today.  And pray for healing and redemption in the lives of those being freed from bondage.
 
Key Verse
 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.