Tag: kidnapping

Set the captives free: The Bible’s real message on slavery & redemption (Exodus 21–22; Jeremiah 34)

Post author By Daniel
Post date December 20, 2025
No Comments on Set the captives free: The Bible’s real message on slavery & redemption (Exodus 21–22; Jeremiah 34)

A digital oil painting created by ChatGPT in a bold palette-knife style shows a diverse group of people journeying from darkness into light. On the left, figures emerge from shadow and bondage, symbolizing slavery in Exodus. They move through parted waters toward a radiant, open landscape of freedom and hope. At the center, a luminous, robed figure with outstretched arms represents Messiah Yeshua, welcoming men, women, and children of many backgrounds into redemption and unity. The right side glows with warm golds and blues, intentionally left simple and uncluttered to accommodate a text overlay. In the upper right corner is the text, “Set the captives free: The Bible’s real message on slavery & redemption (Exodus 21–22; Jeremiah 34).” A small Hallel.info watermark appears in the lower right corner.

The Bible’s laws about slavery can be troubling, but they reveal something deeper: Even within ancient realities, God’s instructions are aimed to bring dignity, protection, and a pathway to freedom for everyone — Israelites and outsiders alike. In Exodus 21-22, Jeremiah 34 and similar passages, we see that Scripture moves toward greater justice, mercy and inclusion. Ultimately, all these hopes find their fulfillment in the Messiah, Who opens the door to true freedom for every person and nation, showing God’s heart to set all captives free and welcome all into His family.

Tags 'emuna - faithfulness - Strong's H530, abolition of slavery, chataph - kidnapping, cherut - freedom, chesed - mercy/lovingkindness - Strong's H2617, eved - servant or slave, even - stone, Exodus 21, Exodus 22, goyim - nations - Strong's H1472, Jeremiah 34, kidnapping, mishpat - judgment - Strong's H4941, Parashat Mishpatim, ruach - wind/spirit - Strong's H7307, slavery, teshuvah, Torah reading 060

Discussions Reflections on Scripture

Genesis 12–17: Abram’s ‘slaves’ aren’t like American slavery

Post author By Daniel
Post date October 24, 2015
No Comments on Genesis 12–17: Abram’s ‘slaves’ aren’t like American slavery

Anti-Slavery Almanac, 1838 — Illustration from the Anti-Slavery Almanac, published 1838 (Public Domain photo).

God is not an American. As we study the Torah reading לֶךְ-לְךָ‎ Lech Lecha (“get going!” Genesis 12–17), we should remember that the Bible He divinely inspired should not be interpreted through the lens of American history.