As Christians, we're supposed to be agaist slavery. We're supposed to fight for the rights of humans. Protect the unprotected. Ok, well what's with Exodus 21.
I'm drawing a blank on this one.
These people had just left slavery. We're told they "plundered" Egypt on the way out, so their needs should be taken care of (clothes, sheep, food, water, vast blazing desert to wonder around in). Now I'm assuming that they hadn't even had a chance to get stuck in slavery all over again (hello, learning-from-experience).
It just seems interesting that God would lay this out. Let me clarify, slavery: I'm against it (similar to cancer, starvation and generally "bad" things).
But look at the grace that is instilled here in Exodus 21. Work six years and you go free. Come in married and you leave married. As a women, you're to be treated as a wife or daughter. And there's even the chance that if someone punches you in the face, you can go free.
Now flip over to the Psalm-of-the-day and you read that God purchased and redeemed Israel. That's slave language. Much like the guy that was a debter in the New Testament parable, this passage in Exodus is the way they are to interact with God and Him with them. Work six years and take one off... They are His. There is ownership. A specific relationship. He sets the rules...absolutely. Sounds familiar?
Interesting... (btw, I'm still against slavery)
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