Please do not forget to pray for each other, support one another, and hold one another accountable for following Jesus daily by forgiving and asking forgiveness, by Bible study, by prayer, and by loving other persons.
In the previous lesson we learned the importance of good leadership for the life of the people of God. In the lesson prior to that, we learned how covenant is the way in which we relate to God. In this lesson we will discuss the importance of land and work. These three lessons lay the foundation for how God began to redeem the three primary relationships discussed in this series: the relationship to God, relations among people, and now, in this lesson, how God redeems our relations with the land and material resources. By means of redeeming these three relationships, God began the process by which his people would bless the world and thereby redeem all of life as corrupted by sin and death.
Before beginning our study of how Israel’s relationship with the land was ordered by covenant, let us address our five questions in light of the previous lesson. Where did we come from? We came from the Lord Jesus who sets us in a community directed by leaders. Who are we? We are leaders and followers and sometimes both, ordained to serve Christ and each other in his Kingdom. Where are we now? We are sill in the midst of sin, corruption, and death, yet members of a community whose leaders and followers work together to bless the world. Where are we going? We are going where the Lord leads us, and where we are led by our leaders. What must we do? Leaders are to serve those who they lead, pastor them as the shepherd of their souls, and the led are to honor and respect those God has placed in authority. We are now going to study Leviticus 25:8-28.
Leviticus 25:8-28
Once God had delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, he gave them a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8) God led Israel to conquer this land, and they did so through a series of attacks which placed most of the land within their power. As we shall see when we study God's perfect revelation, God's final Kingdom is not achieved by force of arms, but by Jesus who died on the cross that all who believe in him might live.
Once in the land, God directed the people to divide the land among the tribes, clans, and families of Israel. This ensured that each family would own its own land, its own place to live, work, and supply their daily needs. Further, as this passage from Leviticus makes clear, no one was to permanently acquire the land of another family. This legislation enabled families to have a livelihood for generations to come, and it protected the weak against the strong who would use their power to seize, expropriate, or foreclose on land. In modern societies, many people live in cities and do not own land or farm their own land, and it is often the case that the laws do not protect the weak from the abuse of the strong. God, however, wants all people to work, and he wants all societies to be so organized that all who are willing to work can work in jobs that supply the daily needs of their families. That is why God gave his people land and laws that taught them how to use the land so all would be blessed.
Please read Leviticus 25:8-28 aloud at least twice and then discuss the following questions.
Questions for Discussion
1. How did the year of Jubilee ensure that land would return to its original owners?
2. When buying or selling land, how was the value of land calculated?
3. Who was the true owner of all land?
4. How were relatives to help those who became poor and lost their land?
5. On the fiftieth year, the people of Israel were not to work. How were they to support themselves at this time, and what would God do to make sure that would happen? How were the people to trust God in this matter?
6. Do you know of any ways that Jesus fulfilled or even went beyond what was required in Leviticus 25:8-28?
Additional Questions
1. In Israel, relatives were to help their family members who lost their land. As we shall see when we learn about Jesus, the bonds that bind Christians together are stronger than bonds of one's natural family. Our fellow Christians are our nearest relatives. In parts of the world where people lack land and employment, how can church members work together to start small businesses, or acquire land, so that all their members can have the opportunity to work?
2. Does your small group have any means, land or resources, that you can use to enable your members to work? Are their ways you can cooperate with the leadership of your church to enable church members to work? Also, if some of you are political or community leaders, what do these verses tell you to do in regard to land and resources? Here you must ask God to help you and seek the help and prayers of Christian friends, for in certain countries, it is very difficult and even dangerous to reform deep evils.
3. As seen in our study, ”God Creates the World,” it is not good to be idle. If, at this moment, you do not have work, are their ways you can work in your church or community, even if there is little or no pay involved?
4. Scripture commands believers to give ten percent of their produce or income to the church for the work of the church and to help the poor. Are you giving ten percent and trusting God in this matter?
5. According to II Thessalonians 3:10, if a man or a woman will not work, they have no right to eat. The church does, however, have the responsibility to help those who want to work, but for whatever reason, cannot work. Does your church have ways of helping those who are unable to work or to find work?
6. All Christians belong to the great family of God. If your church has more than enough resources to meet its material needs, are you working with other very poor Christian churches to help them develop ways of meeting their material needs? What these churches need, above all, are persons who are skilled in forming cooperatives, or in developing better farming methods, as well as capital to start small enterprises or obtain resources such as clean water.
7. Are you, as an individual, using your material resources wisely, not wasting money on luxuries or excessive living, and using your surplus for the good of others?
8. Do you do your work well? If you are an employee, are you working for the best of your ability?
9. This question is especially important for those who are leaders in commerce, or in business. Is your business being conducted in ways that honor God? Do you seek God's direction by daily prayer and study of his Word so that God will direct your business according to his plans? Are you paying a living wage and treating your employees fairly?
10. In light of this lesson, how would you answer the five questions of this study: Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we now? Where are we going? What must we do?
This is an important lesson, especially when we consider that so many people in this world are desperately poor. Please pray about these matters. If you and your people are lacking the resources to live adequately, fall on your faces before God and implore him to show you how you can help each other. Perhaps some of you are selfish with the resources you do have, or some of you may be capable of work and do not do so. Please help each other, humble yourselves, give thanks to the Lord for he is good. Remember your children. Pray that God will help you to take care of them. Let us end with a prayer, beseeching the Almighty God who made heaven and earth, to see to it that you, your family, church, and community will be blessed with the means of life.
O great Father in heaven, source of all good things, pour out upon us your goodness and mercy, that we might help one another to enjoy the blessings of this good earth, and empower each of us to work, and to do our work well, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, became poor that we might be rich. In his name we pray. Amen.
In our next lesson, we will begin our study of the prophets. Please do not forget to pray for each other during the week.
The Rev. Robert J. Sanders, Ph.D.
February, 2013
