Leviticus 25:35-55
Monday, 11 September 2023
“…One of his brothers may redeem him;” -Leviticus 25:48
Leviticus is a book of laws—instructions given to God’s people through Moses prior to their stay in their promised land. They were to be guidelines for a holy living as God told them: ‘Be holy, because I, the LORD, your God, am holy’ (Leviticus 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 today!
God gave them laws in such a way that the dignity of the individual was preserved. 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.
A careful study of the kinsman redeemer in the Old Testament reveals Christ our Redeemer in the New Testament. The kinsman redeemer had to be
· A close relative
· Be willing
· Be rich enough to pay the redemption price
· Be free to redeem
See how Jesus fulfils all these qualities:
· He is our close relative, One who came and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Hebrews 2:14[TLB] says: Since we, God’s children, are human beings—made of flesh and blood—he became flesh and blood too by being born in human form; for only as a human being could he die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death.
· He was willing to redeem us with His own life: Hebrews 10:9 says of Christ: Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” Jesus the Son of Man came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
· He paid the rich price for our redemption- 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).
· He was free from the curse of sin, without any sin in Himself so that He could redeem us: “You know that Christ came to take away our sins. There is no sin in Him.” (1John 3:5 NLV); 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus the Perfect Redeemer! He is qualified in every way to redeem you and me from the bondage of sin.
Remember, sin is a hard taskmaster who pays 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 perfect liberty in the Perfect Redeemer!
Ref: https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-is-a-kinsman-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)
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