Exodus 21:18-21 (NKJV)

“If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed.

“And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.”

People are troubled by this passage because they think it condones slavery. It doesn’t condone slavery any more than it condones fighting. Yes, the only kind of slavery the Bible totally bans is shanghaied slaves, but it imposes important restrictions on all other kinds.

The words here, in context, imply that this rule doesn’t refer to the indentured servant kind of slave. Still, it allows things we wouldn’t tolerate today.

But that’s just the point. This was written long ago when these practices were not only common but unregulated. These laws break the ice on the concept that there will be permanent rules on what you can and cannot do to a slave. Slave owners back then would have thought, “Baloney! I can do anything I want with my own property.”

Not with property that’s created in the image of God.

The same concept applies to fighting. The rule is no longer the winner wins and the loser just loses. If you put someone in the “hospital,” you have to pay his “medical bills” and also compensate him for his loss of time. Again, some people would have surely reacted with something like, “Baloney!”

Nope. Human life is precious.

Slavery is still surprisingly widespread.

https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/19/world/global-slavery-estimates-ilo/index.html

https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/modern-slavery/

They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” – Revelation 6:10

This illustrates a horrible truth about man’s sinful nature – people will do anything for money. Nothing is too evil. Thus, the only way to stop something is to take away the profit. This applies to elephant poaching the same as to human slavery.

The only way to stop it is to eliminate the market. That’s what to pray for. That’s what to work toward.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies