Day 246: Would you make a good boss? - Deuteronomy 15 vs 12 – 18

12-14 “If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you for six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 

16-17 But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you, then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave for ever. And to your female slave you shall do the same. 

18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired servant he has served you for six years. So the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do. Deuteronomy 15:12-18 English Standard Version

In the first 11 verses of this chapter the people were taught by God to show kindness and generosity towards the poor, and mercy to those who were in debt. Today we see they were to do the same with a slave. Slavery, understandably, has a very bad reputation. But it was common to every nation through the ages no matter what the colour. We still have 'servants' in society today. Some slaves were people who'd been captured in battle. But sometimes people became slaves because they were destitute and slavery at least provided them with food and shelter. What would you say was the benefit of the law God gave Israel in vs 12-14?

The slave knew that they were not destined to slavery for all their life, and the gifts the owner gave when they were set free (as commanded by God) would have enabled them to start afresh. What was the owner of the slave to keep in mind so that he would be generous to the slave when they were released? (vs 15)

The Jewish people had been slaves for a long time in Egypt. And when God set them free He caused the Egyptians to load them with gifts as they departed the land. As Christians we also should be a people who are quick to show mercy and kindness to others because that’s what we've received in abundance from God in Christ Jesus.

Verses 16-17 will sound very strange to people today. But what sort of person do you think that slave-owner must have been for the slave to say what we read in those verses?

I suspect they must've been owners who were kind and fair. There were still slaves in the days Jesus lived and, in writing to Christians who owned slaves, the apostle Paul said: “Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Colossians 4:1) The apostle Peter also speaks in 1 Peter 2:18 of masters who were 'good and gentle'. The piercing of the ear mentioned in vs 16-17 showed that it was not just a hasty decision by the slave, it was a sign of their total commitment.

But, kind owner or not, I suspect most slaves would've wanted freedom. And if that was the case, the master was not to give the slave their freedom with reluctance and regret. Why? (vs 18)

Because they ought to have been grateful for all the hard work they had benefited from over the previous six years – and if they rejoiced to give a man or woman their freedom, God would bless their lives. So, does this Old Testament passage have any relevance in countries where slavery, happily, has been abolished?

I'd suggest it teaches that we should show our gratitude for the services of those who do the most menial tasks that benefit us so much. Our refuge is collected, our streets are cleaned, meals are brought to us by waiters, and so many other things. It also teaches those who are bosses to be the sort of boss that the people they employ will say that they love you for the way you treat them, and that their lives have been made better through working for you. A Christian employer should demonstrate the love of Christ.