We are in chapter twenty-one of Exodus with our word for today which is actually two phrases with the same meaning. גֹנֵ֨ב אִ֧ישׁ manstealing used once in our chapter. גֹּנֵ֨ב נֶ֤פֶשׁ stealing a soul or a person used once in the Old Testament. Let’s look at our phrases. Exodus 21:16 Whoever וְגֹנֵ֨ב אִ֧ישׁ steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death. As we saw yesterday this action deserves the death penalty. We see the same consequence to this action in our next phrase. Deuteronomy 24:7 If a man is found גֹּנֵ֨ב נֶ֤פֶשׁ stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. Did you catch that? Not only do we have the same punishment echoed here but God also condemns this sin calling it evil that needs to be purged from the community. The New Testament also shows God condemning this behavior. 1 Timothy 1:9-11 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for...slave traders...and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. Included in this list of ungodliness is slave traders this is man stealing. It is also called contrary to sound doctrine of the gospel the church is to believe and proclaim. We have already looked at our word for stealing a few days ago which is taking something or someone without the owners permission or consent. So in this God is and always has been consistent. People who accuse God and Christians of defending slavery are not understanding what the Bible teaches about this. I find it interesting that God doesn’t shy away from this controversial word. In fact he uses it to describe our relationship to himself. Jesus reminds us of what a slave or servant means. Luke 17:7-10 Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” It is easy for us to say since we don’t see slaves or servants any more that this doesn’t apply to us. We have more of a contractual employee employer system. But notice that this is the way God defines our relationship with him. Ephesians 6:5-8 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Did you catch the phrase as you would Christ? So, we serve as we serve Christ because he is our Lord or master. Also did you catch the sincere heart phrase and doing the will of God from the heart. We are talking about inside out serving Christ out of love as his servant or slave. This is why Paul didn’t call himself an Apostle very much. He most of the time called himself the slave or servant of Christ. The good news that Christ died in my place for my sin to forgive me should motivate me say like the slaves who had good masters I love my master and don’t want to leave. I’ll close with this great passage of what humble church leadership looks like. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
