From Slavery To Slavery

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: b’Har On the Mountain
Torah: Vay Ikra 25:1-26:2

Few realize that when Avinu took us out of Egypt, we were taken out of one “house of bondage” against our will to serve another Master.
The following Scriptures describe some of the terms of our “redemption”.

Not only were we redeemed from Egypt to serve a new Master but we are commanded to “love” Him as well.

“4 “Hear, O Israel: Avinu Eloheinu is one Avinu; 5 and you shall love Avinu Elohekah with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” (De 6:4-5 )

VaYikra 25:55 For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am Avinu Elohekah.

When He took us out of Egypt, He gave us a list of instructions that we are expected to observe. These instructions define the relationship that He expects from us.

“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.” (De 16:12 )

“You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Avinu Elohekem redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.” (De 15:15 )

“20 Every one should remain in the state in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. 22 For he who was called in Avinu as a slave is a freedman of Avinu. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Meshiach. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” (1Co 7:20-23 )

“19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from Avinu? You are not your own; 20 you were bought with a price. So glorify Avinu in your body.” (1Co 6:19-20 )

“16 Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to Avinu, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching (the Torah) to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. 20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of Avinu, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Ro 6:16-22 )

When our Master placed us in a land that He prepared for us, He emphasized that He is the sole owner of all the land and that we were only allowed to live on the land as long as we followed His instructions.

25:23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for you are strangers and sojourners with me.

The Master instructed us that He would not tolerate anyone whom He redeemed serve another master. Anyone caught serving a strange master would be put to death.

26:1 You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am Avinu Elohekah. 2 You shall keep my Shabbats, and reverence my sanctuary: I am Avinu.”