Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Protection Against Permanent Bondage

How did God protect Israel against slavery? BR-ASI9 322.9

“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. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing today.” Deuteronomy 15:12-15. “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:21. (See 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4.) BR-ASI9 322.10

What was one reason why Israel should keep the Sabbath? BR-ASI9 323.1

“And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:15. BR-ASI9 323.2

What was to be proclaimed in Israel every fifty years? BR-ASI9 323.3

“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.” Leviticus 25:10. BR-ASI9 323.4

Because Israel failed to do this, became oppressive, and disregarded and misused the Sabbath, what did God do? BR-ASI9 323.5

“Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” Jeremiah 34:17. (See also Jeremiah 17:24-27; 2 Chronicles 36:19-21.) BR-ASI9 323.6

What fault did God find with Israel’s fasts? BR-ASI9 324.1

“Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness.” Isaiah 58:3, 4. BR-ASI9 324.2

What does God set forth as the acceptable fast to Him? BR-ASI9 324.3

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6, 7. BR-ASI9 324.4

Note.—All this shows that God loves liberty and hates bondage. BR-ASI9 324.5