From Slave to Man to Serve the Lord

The issue of slavery is an age-old concern; yet, across time and culture, the Bible demonstrates both the redemption and transformation of the slave as a person as well as a transformation of the very concept. No other worldview has accomplished this. 

The Old Testament records the practice of slavery as a cultural norm in the Ancient Near East while also accounting for a significant shift regarding slavery and servanthood. The Biblical view of man is built on the foundation that man is made in the image of God. The moral, civil and ceremonial laws develop instruction and rationale regarding how people should treat one another based on this foundation. One notable example is seen at the beginning of the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 20:22-23:33) which opens with teachings on the protected rights of the person or persons who are clearly distinguished apart from property. Care is to be given by one person to another who was injured intentionally or non-intentionally. The one who caused the injury is to nurse and provide for the wounded one until he heals and/or is to be freed from service on the grounds that his livelihood has been threatened (Ex. 21:18-19; 26-27). The cultural norm is shattered and replaced. The Old Testament lifts the burden of subjugation and ultimately shifts the focus to serve as a place of honor. Serving God is the highest honor. As God’s servants come into contact with other cultures, they stand out and are even given greater responsibility and influence.

The character of Christ is unique in that by His servanthood, He accomplished what mankind could not do for himself: deliverance from bondage; that is, freedom from the penalty, power and finally from the presence of sin. This was God’s divine purpose for His servant to fulfill. The exclusivity of His servanthood is seen in His suffering, humiliation, and death not in swooping down from the heavens and conquering His enemies. He accomplished what was humanly impossible providing salvation, healing, restoration and reconciliation for His nation and all people. As “servant of the Lord,” this one man’s purpose was beyond serving a nation but to seek and save the lost. We are to imitate Him by aligning our purpose with His own, seeking and saving the lost even while suffering in the work of serving others.