Strong Tower
A daily scripture exposition.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Leviticus 25:40 NLT
“Treat him instead as a hired worker or as a temporary resident who lives with you, and he will serve you only until the Year of Jubilee.”
Compassion, responsibility, and redemption
In times of vulnerability, individuals may find themselves making less informed choices than they would ideally prefer. For instance, an Israelite facing the crushing weight of poverty might resort to selling himself to another Israelite as a desperate means of survival. Yet, as underscored in the referenced scripture, the buyer bears a profound responsibility: to regard this individual not as a mere slave but as a hired worker or a temporary resident.
You might wonder there is any distinction between the two. Undoubtedly, they are different. From the parable of the prodigal son, we saw what the younger brother said after coming back to his senses. He asserted that “hired servants have food enough to spare” in Father’s house. This imagery encapsulates a crucial principle: by demanding that anyone who has sold himself be treated in such a manner, God ordains that these individuals be placed in a nurturing and comfortable environment. Unlike the condition of traditional slaves, the status of an Israelite who has sold himself is not meant to be permanent; the Year of Jubilee heralds their opportunity for restoration and freedom.
Lastly, treat is an action word, suggesting intentionality must be embedded within the commandments and instructions bestowed upon the Israelites and, by extension, you and I, whom Jesus Christ has redeemed with His blood.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me to treat everyone as You desire not as they wanted or the society desires. In Jesus name, amen.
©️2025 The Chapel of Glory Ministries