Leviticus 25:25-38
Tuesday, 02 April 2024
“If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.” –Leviticus 25:25
Leviticus just as any other book in the Bible has its significance, though it’s an unappealing book to many. The various instructions given to God’s people through Moses, prior to their stay in their promised land were guidelines for holy living as God told them: ‘Be holy, because I, the LORD, your God, am holy’ (Lev.19:2). God expected His people to keep His standards that their lives might tell they are truly God’s children. The same applies to us- His children today.
One of the peculiarities of the laws God gave them was that the dignity of the individual was preserved. If one of their brothers had become poor amongst them, he was to be treated kindly as he lived amongst them. Lending was to be without interest and no profit was to be made at his expense. The poor were not to be mistreated but cared for; if they were unfortunate to become servants, they were not to be treated as slaves. God’s people were to show their fear of God by not treating them harshly (Lev 25:43). God’s laws were protective!
If God’s people became poor and went into debt, if they sold their property or themselves as servants for lack of livelihood, He made provision for the right of redemption! A close relative – (a kinsman redeemer) could redeem them and give them back their property or status in the society. These provisions were made to ease suffering and to keep poverty and slavery in check. Such laws gave great hope to the widows, the poor, and orphans, in protecting their interests. For the Israelites, the motivation to be generous to the poor was the gratitude they owed God in bringing them from a land of slavery and establishing them in the Promised Land and making a covenant to be their God [NKJV Study Bible]. For the believer, how much we are indebted for His generosity and graciousness in giving His Son, Jesus Christ to redeem us from the slavery of sin and make with us a New Covenant (cf. Heb.9:15).
Boaz was the kinsman redeemer in the story of Ruth who willingly redeemed Naomi and Ruth from poverty and in turn maintained their rightful inheritance. This is a pointer to Christ Jesus who is our kinsman redeemer, “our brother”- one who was made just like us so that he could atone for our sins (Heb. 2:17). The “price” he paid to redeem us was His own blood- For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1Peter 1:18-19).
Jesus is the Perfect Redeemer! He is qualified in every way to redeem you and me from the bondage of sin.
Friend, if you are still a slave to sin, it is a hard taskmaster who pays you his wages- death (Romans 6:23)! You are bonded for life if you are not set free from its chains. One who lives in constant sin has no escape unless he/she comes to the Redeemer who can set one free. Only Christ can save us from sin and give us liberty! Jesus paid the price with His own life in order to redeem each of us from the clutches and curse of sin. Are you willing to acknowledge Him as your Redeemer so that you will live in His grace where sin will no longer be your master (Romans 6:14)? Then experience the perfect liberty in the Perfect Redeemer!
Think on: “In him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace...” (Ephesians 1:7)
Listen: 'we are redeemed '