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SLAVERY

What is a slave? A person who is the property of another. How does one become a slave? Where does it come from? In a nutshell, slavery comes from God. If you are a blessing to Him, He will bless you, if you are a curse, He will curse you. History should be proof enough, but for those who believe the Bible is the Word of God; this is where the real proof lies. We should learn from history but we don't. We keep making the same mistakes, and as a result we keep having wars and economic problems, not to mention slavery.

Slavery goes back a long way in the history of the world. There are two kinds of slavery. Man ordained, by God's allowance, and God ordained, using man as the oppressor.

Slavery should not be based on race, creed or color. It should be based on mankind’s inability to handle freedom. If you can't live by the rules, you should be put into the SLAVERY system.

Slavery, based on race, is something man does to his fellow man. It is usually based on prejudice alone. The fact that a certain race goes into slavery at the hands of prejudice men can also mean that they are suffering from the judgment of God for national sins. God may very well use one race or group, to bring about this judgment upon another. As an example: when Israel became sinful and deserved judgment, God almost always used a worse nation than themselves to bring about this judgment. The men of war, which did the fighting, didn't know a hill of beans about God's judgment; they only knew that they hated the children of Israel, which only adds insult to injury. Most people don't believe in a "God of Wrath" to begin with, let alone God using sinful man to bring judgment upon his fellow sinful man. Whenever this happens now, it is called "human rights" violations. (See the Books of Ezekiel (7:24) and Habakkuk (1:12-17)).

Slavery isn't only something that man does to his fellow man. God has and will continue to oppress sinful man with mankind each and every time we walk in this life according to our own dictates. The various -isms are proof of this: Egyptianism, Assyrianism, Babylonianism, Persianism, Grecianism, Romanism, Naziism, and Communism are just a few of the more well known scourges that God has allowed and/or set on this world to send fear and trembling to a sinful people, as well as judgment if they don't repent. (See: GOD and STATE, and GOD of WRATH.) How many people have these nations enslaved throughout history? Why has there always been an "evil empire?” After Communism dies out (look at China and Russia for an example) what will be next? I suspect it will be terrorism, and then the Antichrist will offer to clean up the mess.

If we were smart, the leaders of this country would follow God's pattern when dealing with criminals. We should enslave everyone that can't handle freedom. Whatever people, irrespective of race, creed or color, can't stay out of trouble, they should be put into the bonds of slavery so society will not only be rid of them, but the criminals behind bars will pay their own way. They will no longer be a burden to the taxpayer. Restitution, court fines and some of the prison operation could be paid back through some form of labor that wouldn't rob honest working people of their jobs. The more docile could be farmed out to various industries and the troublesome could be confined to maximum-security prisons.

Amendment 13 of the U.S. Constitution says: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States,... The Congressional amenders recognized the fact that the Constitution does not give you a right to commit crimes, and that when you so do, you lose your constitutional protections, which goes to prove that there isn't any such thing as "unalienable rights" to those outside the law. (See: Declaration of Independence.) The same thing extends to God's dominion for all those individuals and nations outside His "laws." If He finds you guilty of crimes against Heaven, He certainly has the right to do whatever He wants with you. He also gives governments the right to deal with crime in the way they choose, and those governments should know that He is watching what they do and how they do it. This of course, won't do the person being punished any good while they are being punished, but the government will be answerable for what they do and how they do it. (Read: Isaiah 47:6, Romans 13:1-7, and See: GOD and STATE.)

I think the word "unreasonable" in the fourth amendment has to be dealt with in relation to giving guilty persons the same protections as the law-abiding citizens. The Constitution was meant to protect the citizen from harassment by the government, whether that citizen is minding his own business or speaking out against government wrongdoing. I don't think anyone "plotting" the overthrow of the nation should be treated with the same respect as the one "suspected" of plotting the overthrow of the nation. When the criminal has more rights and protection than the victim, it's time to reevaluate our interpretation of the Constitution.

The slavery system could be used to clean up a lot of problems. Take for instance, illegal immigrants. If they insist on crossing the borders illegally to take advantage of higher wages, simply make them work for no wages at all. When they are caught don't take them back to the border. Put them in special prisons under guard, and force them to work in the fields for no pay. All they get is a roof over their head and three meals a day. It wouldn't take very long to stop the flow into this country. How many people do you see scrambling to get into Russia, Poland, or any other east block nations?

The maximum-security prisons could be made up of single cells adjoining a room equipped with an electrical generator. Generating electricity is something most prisoners could do, without competing with private industry. Any prisoner that would be farmed out to private industry would not be at the expense of anyone's job. There could even be a plan that would allow the non-maximum security prisoner to work at his present job and the state would get his check. He would be under strict control of a probation officer or even sleep in jail in certain cases. One violation for alcohol or any other problem and back he goes to a "controlled" environment or single cell lock-up.

Schwinn makes an exercise cycle that is powered by the legs and the arms. The energy it takes for operating this could be used to make electricity. The workday could be eight hours a day for six days a week. Six hours of work, one hour for lunch and two half hour breaks. The prisoners would have eight hours of work, eight of sleep, and eight for free time. Three cells would be adjoined to one generating room, and therefore could be manned in three shifts for maximum use of the equipment. The "generators" could watch selected TV while they generate, and through a special in house TV system could get an education while confined to their cells in their off duty time. There would be a certain number of days they would be allowed to get outside for sun, fresh air and other exercise.

There would be dark confinement units with no TV, books or any other entertainment for those that refused to work. For those that refuse to do any generating or other labor, there could be several options: The first says, if they don't work they don't eat; which means if they don't eat they die. This plan wouldn't get too far with the bleeding heart liberals. The next plan says that they could be put on a life sustaining ration and allowed no reading or other entertainment, and would cut the time outside by two-thirds or any combination of the above. The time served will only start when the prisoner is doing labor. Those that are physically not able to generate electricity or other hard labor would be given other tasks or put into another type of prison system.

Drunk driver, drug seller, drug user, robber, thief, pick pocket, or whatever act is wrong, and is not a capital offence, could be put into the slavery system.

There would be no gathering together. I don't think prisons should be a place where men and women congregate and tell war stories further encouraging their bad behavior, and learn new tricks of the trade for when they get out. They would not be allowed to practice stabbing policemen or guards like they do in the present system. In total isolation there are no bosses, rapes, beatings, fights, etc. There would be no riots, where lives are lost and property is destroyed. They would not be allowed to learn or acquire the fraternity syndrome that, in part or whole, would ever make prison feel like the "in" place to be, or be an acceptable substitute to freedom.

The idea of this kind of treatment is to pay back the victim, (man or state) and give incentive to the criminal not to come back. Whatever period of time they are in the system, they will at least carry their own weight. When a person pays for the crime and the state's expenses in terms of days, dollars and "watts," they could be released. For repeat offenders the term could be extended, and extended each time they come back for a similar crime. For the family of the prisoner that looses the wage earner or if the wage earner needs a baby-sitter while the spouse is in jail, money could be given to them that will have to be paid back during or after the prison term.

There quite naturally would not be any alcoholic beverages allowed and a further step for good health would eliminate tobacco products.

The Bible has several scriptures that deal with how you are to treat your slaves. The following scriptures are included to show that God is no stranger to the subject of slavery and moreover can be considered the author. The God of "love" we hear so much about is also a God of "wrath." If we turn away from Him, He will send judgment upon us. That judgment can be in many forms. The one form we are dealing with in this section is SLAVERY. It was a common tool of judgment in the Old Testament and we can see that it was still in use in the Apostle Paul's day, around A.D. 64.

We should be smart enough to see it and use it for the benefit of society. Let us be a plague to the criminals so they won't be a plague to us.

This also gets back to the dispensing of justice by local judges. The town judge tends to know the troublemakers and is not as apt to forget them as a county judge or district judge would. Town people know their neighbor's sins but aren't always willing to put their name on an affidavit to get the trouble maker brought before the law. Confronting your accusers sounds noble, but is hard to do if you aren't "confrontationally" minded. If someone knows of a person committing a crime and is willing to tell the police and the police then catch the person in the act of that crime or the planning of a crime, the arrest should be carried out and upheld in a court of law. It should be the same thing for possession of contraband. If a person is making up a story to get another person in trouble that person should be severely punished. Once again, the judge at the local level will have a good idea if the suspect is a logical suspect for such a charge.

One of the things that we should have learned from the Vietnam POW experience is that you can treat a person very badly and they will still survive. Sitting in a clean, temperature regulated cell with three good meals a day, a person can live to a good old age and be very healthy until he/she would either die or be released. They would not have to be out in an exercise yard every day, which endangers guards and requires a person or persons to handle them, which costs much money.

The following scripture should point out very clearly that God is the author of slavery. This is the only form of welfare I would give people that have been "cursed" into the kind of life style that seems to lend itself to crime. It is time for slavery. It is time that criminals pay for their crime. It is time that the taxpayer is not burdened with the cost of holding criminals. It is time they pay their own way.

Genesis 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

Genesis 14:12-16

12. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Genesis 16:1,6-9

1. Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 6. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 9. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

Genesis 17:12-13,23,27

12. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 23. And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. 27. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

Genesis 29:24,29

24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Genesis 37:25-28,36

25. And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27. Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 36. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:2-23 not only shows that slavery was common, but also shows God's providence. It should be pointed out that His providence isn't always a bed of roses.

Genesis 47:19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

Exodus 12:44-45

44. But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. (Speaking of the Lord’s sacrifice). 45. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
These verses clearly show that there are hired servants and bought slaves. Lev. 25:10-55 deals some more with the aspect of bought versus hired servants and who the Jews could have as hired or bond.

Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
Slaves also come about as a result of theft or debt. A lot of bankruptcy claims should be handled in the same way. That would tend to make for cautious spending.

Exodus 22:1-3

1. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2. If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
I think there are people today using bankruptcy as a form of theft. There's little difference between the curse of "bad luck" and dishonesty. Someone should not be allowed to spend their way to happiness or an attempt for success at the expense of others.

Leviticus 22:10-11

10. There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11. But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.

Leviticus 25:39,42,44-45

39. And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 42. For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 44. Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.

Leviticus 26:13-22

13. I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright. 14. But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15. And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16. I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: 20. And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. 21. And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. 22. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
All the above-mentioned plagues are just as real as slavery itself. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Numbers 31:12-19

12. And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho. 13. And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. 14. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. 15. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16. Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. 17. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18. But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. 19. And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.

Deuteronomy 15:12,16-17

12. And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. 16. And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17. Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

Deuteronomy 16:11 And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

Deuteronomy 20:10-13

10. When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. 12. And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: 13. And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

Deuteronomy 21:10-14

10. When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, 11. And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; 12. Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house, and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; 13. And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. 14. And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

Deuteronomy 28:32,41,48,53-57,68

32. Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine hand. 41. Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity. 48. Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. 53. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: 54. So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: 55. So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. 56. The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, 57. And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. 68. And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
Here is another promise of slavery and distress in judgment to those who don't obey the Lord.

Joshua 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
They thought it was better to be a slave than to be dead.

Joshua 16:10 And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

Joshua 17:13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.

2 Samuel 8:2,6,14

2. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 6. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. 14. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

2 Samuel 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

1 Kings 8:46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2 Kings 5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

2 Kings 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
War was a primary means of getting slaves, whether used by themselves or sold to others for profit.

1 Chronicles 6:15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: GOD and STATE.)

2 Chronicles 8:7,8

7. As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel, 8. But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.
Whether actual slaves or just oppressed, such as modern man is by oppressive taxes, you really don't have freedom to breathe. This is not meant as a statement to cause rebellion but to say that we get the government we deserve and only by coming to God through Christ can we be blessed with true freedom.

2 Chronicles 28:5,8-11,13

5. Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 8. And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9. But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. 10. And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? 11. Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you. 13. And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
God delivered Israel into the hands of the king of Syria and does not apologize for it. They were working out God's will but Syria was responsible for the treatment Israel received.
Note: Verses (10-15), talks about the anger of the LORD because the children of Israel took their brethren captive. All other nations were fair game.

2 Chronicles 29:6-10

6. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs. 7. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. 8. Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 9. For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10. Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.
This whole portion should really be underlined even though it doesn't specifically mention slavery. As you can see by these verses, slavery is only one thing to plague those that turn away from God. (See: God of Wrath.)

2 Chronicles 30:9 For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
Once the people rediscover God, or live-out His sentence, they will be free from that captivity.

2 Chronicles 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
This is a good case-in-point for the last scripture, (30:9). Notice the last half of the verse, "until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:." At that time they were restored to their land. Sometimes it takes a change of heart as in (30:9) or a change of kings. A similiar situation happened to Russia and other nations that fell to the Communist curse.

Ezra 9:9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Here is another verse that says the same thing. It also shows that they acknowledge the fact that God sent them into bondage but had not forsaken them.

Nehemiah 1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
This verse is just a reminder of why people will go into bondage. The bottom line is, if you transgress against God anything can happen, including slavery.

Nehemiah 5:5,8

5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. 8. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.

Nehemiah 9:24,27,37

24. So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 27. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 37. And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
Bondage works on both sides of the fence.

Esther 7:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
The modern saying is, "better dead than red." That is the battle cry for those that deserve God's judgment but refuse to yield to it for whatever period of time God deems necessary. War is actually just a way of suicide for the people being judged and that refuse to abide by God's judgment. God gave us life to live, whether it’s sweet or bitter.

Psalms 106:41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

Psalms 107:10-15

10. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: 12. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Our only help out of bondage is God. Fighting and war will only bring about premature death. Remember, there is a time to fight and not to fight (see: Eccl. 3:1-8). The Holy Spirit will have to be the one to say when.

Isaiah 14:2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
What goes around comes around.

Isaiah 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Isaiah 33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
This is why, if you are ever a nation that is the rod of God's anger against another nation, you had better be as kind as you can be in war and to the captives, because it will come home to haunt you if you are wicked. I think the reason some of our "war vets" have serious psychological problems is because they went over to "KILL" bad guys, rather than kill to "SAVE" lives such as Sergeant York did in WWI. I think that's the reason Harry Truman lived such a long healthy life after leaving office. He dropped the A-Bomb to save possibly two million American lives, not to mention the Japanese lives that would have been lost in a longer war. The near 140,000 Japanese lives lost in the two A-bomb attacks was a lot less than a long protracted war would have produced. More "innocent" civilians than that would have died in conventional bombings.

Isaiah 45:14 Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

Isaiah 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

Isaiah 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

Jeremiah 2:14 Is Israel a servant? Is he a home born slave? Why is he spoiled?
I think we know the answer to that already.

Jeremiah 5:19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Jeremiah 15:2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
Captivity is just one of God's tools of judgment. This is what happened in the holocaust. Back in 1957 or so I remember watching the Tom Fransen (unsure of spelling) Show, where he was interviewing a Jewish woman who survived the holocaust; she was in the "showers" with many other people about to be gassed, when the doors were opened and her name was called out. She was removed from the showers and survived. Corrie ten Boom, of "The Hiding Place" fame, had a similiar experience; she found out sometime later that she had been marked for death.

Jeremiah 17:4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land, which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

Jeremiah 22:10 Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

Jeremiah 28:14 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

Jeremiah 34:8,14-17

8. This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 14. At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. 15. And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: 16. But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. 17. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

Jer. 34:1-22 deals with Judahs' having Hebrew slaves and not letting them go free after the allotted number of years.

Lamentations 1:1,5

1. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! 5. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

Ezekiel 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
Slave traders.

Ezekiel 29:18-21

18. Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: 19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. 20. I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord God. 21. In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Here is another series of scripture that needs almost the whole portion underlined. I don't hear God apologizing for this one either. He used Babylon for the sword of His anger against Tyre and turned around and gave them wages consisting of Egypt, because they too angered Him earlier.
It seemed they were loyal to Nebuchadnezzar to a communist-like or terrorist-like dedication and had no thought of reward.

Ezekiel 30:17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity.

Ezekiel 34:27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
Here is more restoration from bondage.

Ezekiel 39:23-24,28

23. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. 24. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. 28. Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
Hosea 3:2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Joel 3:6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

Joel 3:8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.

Habakkuk 1:9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

Zechariah 11:5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

Matthew 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
This is speaking of prison for debts. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution forbids slavery - except for duly convicted criminals (See: Declaration of Independence). If, according to the Supreme Court, killing babies is legal, why not make a law forbidding bankruptcy. As mentioned before, it would make for real conservative money spending. Plastic credit would be by-and-large, self-regulating.

Matthew 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Can't you just hear the liberal's outrage over this one?

Luke 12:58-59

58. When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. 59. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Luke 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
If they handled bankruptcy in this manner there would be very few that would file. If those that went bankrupt knew they would be in bondage, they would think better of careless spending.

Romans 6:14-23 This is concerning spiritual bondage.

Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Once again, servants (slaves) were a common everyday part of life.

1 Corinthians 7:21-24

21. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 23. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
As Christians we are servants to Christ.

Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This speaks of spiritual bondage to sin but if unrepented, can lead to physical and psychological bondage.

Ephesians 6:5-9

5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6. Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
I think it was Karl Marx that said, "religion is the opiate of the people." I think that comes from the idea that slaves ought to rebel and cast off the chains of their masters (and religion) that tends to keep one there, because it (religion) teaches they deserve it. What he didn't realize was that God is the one that casts into bondage and they (we) do deserve it. Any entity that teaches people that they deserve better and ought to fight for it is born of the same mentality as Karl Marx. Communism isn't as much of an ideology as it was a curse from God on a people that deserved a rotten life. The proof was in the system. It never worked. How could people fight for a bad system from generation to generation with such passion if it weren't from God in judgment?
Once again, concerning freedom, there is a fine line between knowing when to fight and when not to. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, tells us there is a time for war and a time for peace. This is where I disagree with a draft. If the cause is just, and it is God's will that freedom exist, there will be plenty of volunteers.

Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Someday we will all be one, not as the world is trying to do now, but as it will be when we all worship God as He wants and not as we choose. (See: News Media.)

Colossians 3:22-24

22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 3:22-24, and 4:1, tells both parties how to treat each other and further shows the normalcy of slavery. It is hard for us down here to understand what is going on, but all things are under the control of God (See: Eccl. 3:1-8). Paul says whatever state we are in to be content.

1 Timothy 6:1-2

1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
This whole thing should be underlined, but I think it speaks for itself. Whoever said " All the world is a stage and we are but actors upon it" (or something like that) had it about right. We are assigned the parts from God according to what we deserve. If we are God's and we play our part right, we will be rewarded. I don't think Hitler was God's, (as in a child of God) but God used him to bring warning and judgment upon the world and upon all those that cried, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” Matt 27:25.

Titus 2:9-10

9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Philemon 1:10-16 (About a runaway slave).

10. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11. Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12. Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14. But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16. Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
I believe this is a turning away from purchased slaves. I still think there is plenty of room for criminal slaves.

1 Peter 2:18-21

18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
This speaks of spiritual bondage because of sin.

Revelation 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

You can see by the above scriptures that slavery was a common thing throughout Biblical history. Secular history will prove the same thing. Slavery doesn't have to be a dirty word. Those that can't handle freedom, and slavery, go together quite well. When you consider the cost to society that their "freedom of happiness" causes in terms of alcohol, drug abuse, and whatever crimes are spawned as a result of that life style; the realization should prompt us to do something.

About 85-95% of a policeman's job is drug and alcohol related; which is really an abomination considering that only 5-10% of the people are really the habitual problem. Of these 5-10%, there are many repeat offenders. These are the ones that the slavery system would be aimed at.

Let's also remember that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution allows slavery to exist for all parties duly convicted of a crime. What a tremendous waste of resources. It costs us about $27,000 per year to house a criminal. Under the slavery system we could get at least part of that money back each year. The other benefit would be that the criminal would know each time he or she messed up, that they would go back in for a long stretch, losing all freedoms. We wouldn't need to spend money on rehabilitation programs. Bondage would be an incentive that could make kids think more about getting an education and honest job than "getting easy money."

There are those that value the freedom of criminals over the well being of society. We must learn to silence them for the greater good of law-abiding citizens everywhere. The first place to start is in the voting booth. We need slavery to subdue those that would tear society apart by their excessive use of “freedom.” We need to ensure that their excesses are not inflicted upon society at large in general, and be assured that they will pay their own way and not be a burden to all taxpayers in particular. Why should the good pay for the excesses of the bad?

Trying to get voter approval for the slavery system could be a lost cause and a waste of time. The slavery system would make dollars and cents - sense. I believe people get the government they deserve; therefore, it is no accident that we have the present inept system. It is given to us by the hand of God and not for a blessing, but a curse.

It seems to me that the liberal court and prison system worldwide is producing the "sons of Belial" that will be used to institute the antichrist system to this world when the time comes. A prison system full of people would be a good place to go if someone was looking for an army to help them in their cause. Pardons for favors, etc.

The real worry should be that the antichrist can do nothing without God allowing it. And also knowing that the tribulation is another judgment, moreover a worldwide judgment from God, that knowledge should drive us to repentance. Whatever governmental form the antichrist system takes, it is coming and no one is going to stop it. Not to worry.... God will protect His own. (See: Luke 21:36 and Revelation 7:14.)

Concerning slavery in America: I feel really bad about people being stolen from their homeland and brought to another country to be used and treated like animals on farms and plantations because other people were too lazy to work on them themselves and/or were to cheap to hire people to do the work or were simply looking for an unfair economic advantage.

There as so many miserable blacks that are fighting bigotry and prejudice I wish I could do something for them. I fully support their right to remain in their own country so much that if I could go back in time, I would take commandos and destroy slave ships, the crews and anyone else involved in the slave trade.

Just think, there would be no or at least very few black people in this country suffering the injustice of prejudice as a result. I would be a hero among the blacks of Africa. They would sing songs of praise for the men who made sure that they remained in their tribes and villages in Africa.

This way they would only have to suffer prejudice and bigotry from rival tribes and near-by neighbors who would kill and enslave them (or their women) in raids on their villages as they had been doing for hundreds of years.

If you care to check it out, whether they were here or there, prejudice can make lives miserable. I guess I would opt for the best environment of prejudice to live in. An environment in which one could excel and thrive.

I wish the blacks that are miserable and claim to be Christian would read the book of Genesis, chapters 37 through 50. They would see a similar situation with a much different ending in personal attitude and triumph.

I have known and known of many blacks that are successful despite the hardships of prejudice - people the likes of George Washington Carver to Charley Brown, my physiology teacher in high school. Despite what good and successful people they were and are, there are still people that hated them because of their color. That didn’t stop them and didn’t stop God from blessing them with the wisdom and the desire to be successful.

WHEREFORE

DO YE SPEND MONEY

FOR THAT WHICH IS NOT BREAD,

AND

YOUR LABOUR

FOR THAT WHICH SATISFIETH NOT?...

Isaiah 55:2

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