Topic: Let The Captives Go [Friday May 12, 2017]
Text: Deuteronomy 15:12-23
Key Verse: “And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee” (Deuteronomy 15:12).
Generally in life, there are two broad categories of captives: the lawful or willing captive (slaves/servants) and the forced or unwilling captive. Some servants give themselves over to their masters to serve them for a particular period of time on an agreed wage or salary as seen in the case of Jacob with Laban, his uncle. However, at other times, servants are bought as captives of war or from parents or guardians who cannot support them with the basic necessities of life, as a means of raising money for themselves.
These are bond slaves who most often, will have to serve their masters till death or until when they are strong enough to pay for their freedom. In Israel at one time, God gave a commandment specifically about slaves/servants/captives who were Hebrews and were bought or purchased by a Hebrew master. His directive was that they be freed and properly settled on release after six years of faithful service. They, the Hebrew masters, must not see this as a hard thing to do or be grieved at heart when releasing their brethren who had served them faithfully for six years. Obedience to this injunction of God attracted great blessings from Him.
Similarly, today’s masters who are believers and have believers working under them as apprentices, house-helps or workers at their homes, businesses or companies are to faithfully release and settle their subordinates properly, after their service term. They are not to cheat or defraud them or subject them to scorn or ridicule. If Jesus Christ fully forgave ours sins and identified with our frailties, we must also bear with those under us, irrespective of the pressures we face.
A believer cannot revel in acts of slavery and servitude towards others, for Jesus, our Saviour, calls His disciples “friends” and not slaves or servants. If Christ so treats us, so must we also relate with those under us.
Thought for the day: A Christian is he who lives as he that serveth.
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 18-21
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
