A New Slavery Exodus 21:1-6

-As slaves of Christ, we find ultimate liberty

The Power of a Paradox

Wolves are fascinating creatures, and even more so due to the recent changes to their population in North America. 

In 1995, grey wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. Knowing that wolves are predators and typically at the top of the food chain, common expectation was that elk, beaver, rabbit, and other prey populations might decrease due to the predatory prowess of the wolves — you know, the whole "circle of life" effect.

But the reverse has actually been the case. There was only one beaver colony in the park in 1995, but by 2019 there were nine colonies! What possible impact did the reintroduction of wolves have on the beaver population? Well, as the wolves chased the elk they began moving around more, spreading throughout the park. This disbursement of the elk population allowed beavers and other animals to enjoy a greater share of the vegetation they need to eat for survival. And since the beavers were now able to not just survive, but to thrive, they built more dams, which in turn has benefitted the fish, bird, and bear populations. 

... [T]he reintroduction of wolves continues to astonish biologists with a ripple of direct and indirect consequences throughout the ecosystem. ... It is like kicking a pebble down a mountain slope where conditions were just right that a falling pebble could trigger an avalanche of change. — Doug Smith, a wildlife biologist in charge of the Yellowstone Wolf Project

You see how this works? What was feared as an irritant, a disruptor, a destroyer, was actually a catalyst for immensely powerful and positive change.

You save the prey by introducing the predator.

I. A Law for Learning v. 1

In our passage this morning, the Lord lays out the rules that He has for His people

The laws of God do a couple of things:

They demonstrate God’s character to us

They show us how He expects us to treat each other

They provide a picture of some deeper spiritual realities that we will encounter later on

It can be easy to ignore the Old Testament Law

It feels irrelevant, in light of the New Testament hope

Sometimes, it just seems weird or difficult to understand

However, we must remember that it gives us a picture of better things to come:

However, we must remember that Christ did not invalidate the Law, He fulfilled it; it all points to Him!

Matthew 5:17–18

[17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (ESV)

John 5:39–40

[39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, [40] yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (ESV)

II. A Plan for Pardon vv. 2-3

The Law immediately addresses what should be a painful topic: slavery

The whole point of the Exodus was to get the Israelites out of slavery; why would we want to talk about going back into slavery?

It’s worth noting here that the servitude described here is different than what the Israelites experienced in Egypt

This slavery is not a result of man-stealing, or the subjugation of a people

It is a way for a man to work off a debt that he is incurred that he is unable to pay

In important ways, the system reveals something about the character of God

It is voluntary- you enter this relationship as a way to pay off a debt

It is temporary- you only serve for 6 years

It is fair- you are able to leave with what you brought

I don’t want us to miss the importance of this principle:

This is not about becoming a slave; the man involved is already a slave to his debts

We are slaves to our idols

We are slaves to immorality

We are slaves to our wandering hearts!

This is about God providing a way so that the debtor can go free!

God makes a way!

2 Samuel 14:14

[14] We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. (ESV)

III. A Sign of Submission vv. 4-6

In v. 4, we see a shift and learn something about this temporary slavery:

There can be real blessings, serving under a new master

You might gain a wife and children; but you cannot take them with you if you leave

There is an opportunity to reflect

What if the life I found in service to a good master was better than the life that I made on my own?

In that case, it would be worth staying!

God describes a ritual where the slave commits himself to his master forever

It is signified by the piercing of an ear with an awl

It is a permanent statement: I belong to someone else

On the one hand, this seems terribly constricting

I no longer get to live for myself and in my own way

I am living at the direction of another

On the other, it is completely liberating

Truth be told, when I got my own way, I made a mess of things.

Under my new master, I gained a family, and I had plenty!

In this scenario, the quality of my life will be as great as the quality of my master!

Too often, we want the benefit without the cost; the salvation without the submission!

Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, "The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master".

Luke 6:46

[46] “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (ESV)

IV. A Foreshadow of Freedom

This all finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament!

Paul uses a really interesting term to describe himself: “doulos”

Paul is a slave of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1)

Continually, this is the mark of his life. He recognizes that he is the Lord’s property:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20

[19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

There is an important parallel teaching from the ministry of Jesus:

Matthew 11:28–30

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)

However, the Gospel hope takes us even deeper than this:

Sometimes, slaves become sons

Galatians 4:4–7

[4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (ESV)

This is the paradox: slaves are adopted as sons!

Do you need to be set free from your slavery?

Have you found your true master?

Are you walking in sonship?