Scripture Passage for Today
Scripture Focus
“These are the decrees, regulations, and instructions that the LORD gave through Moses on Mount Sinai as evidence of the relationship between himself and the Israelites.” (Leviticus 26:46 NLT)
Observation
There are fascinating “decrees, regulations, and instructions” detailed in today’s reading. They deal with the sale of property within Israel, with the proper treatment of Israelites who have fallen on hard times and need assistance, and even with the expectations placed on foreigners within Israel who have prospered as part of that nation.
The overarching principle in every case is that every transaction was to be conducted with an eye to the “Year of Jubilee”. In that year, any property purchased from an Israelite was to be returned to the family from whom it was purchased, and any Israelite sold into slavery was to be released. The buyer, then, was really only buying the right to the crops the land produced, or the work the laborer produced—and not the land itself or the person himself or herself.
Though the modern reader might shrink back at regulations that seem to allow for “slavery”, in actuality even this may be one of the most humane systems of social assistance ever devised. Israel’s procedure for dealing with poverty put the impoverished one in relationship with someone who’d obviously managed to succeed. There, necessary life skills could be acquired by the insolvent one. Perhaps the hard times were the result of a poor work ethic or fiscal mismanagement or a limited skill set. What better place for the struggling Israelite to be than in apprenticeship with a skillful, diligent worker who manages money well?
By contrast, in contemporary American culture we allow (encourage?) someone to borrow themselves into financial oblivion. Then—when there’s no way out—a bankruptcy filing means everyone loses (except the lawyers, maybe), including the creditor who’s lost his investment and the borrower, who’s financial integrity and standing is destroyed.
What of the foreigners who were allowed to be sold into slavery without hope of redemption in the Year of Jubilee? (Do I dare attempt to answer this?)
The closing verse of this section says that these regulations exist “…as evidence of the relationship between [God] and the Israelites.” Again I remind myself that the Mosaic covenant engages God’s chosen people in contrast to all the other peoples on the face of the earth. Should it bother me, then, that special redemptive privileges accrue to those who belong to God? I think not! Indeed, in some sense, that is the message of the whole of Scripture!
“To as many as received him, to those who believed in his name, to them gave He power to become the children of God. And that is what we are.”
The contrast is that, for Israel and the surrounding nations, the privileged were selected and pre-determined. Today (Calvinists not withstanding), the choice is mine. The offer is His, the opportunity is mine.
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