Slavery, Disease, and Poverty

The plunder remaining from everything the fighting men had taken totaled 675,000 sheep and goats, 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 virgin girls. Half of the plunder was given to the fighting men. It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats, of which 675 were the LORD’s share; 36,000 cattle, of which 72 were the LORD’s share; 30,500 donkeys, of which 61 were the LORD’s share; and 16,000 virgin girls, of whom 32 were the LORD’s share. Moses gave all the LORD’s share to Eleazar the priest, just as the LORD had directed him. Half of the plunder belonged to the people of Israel, and Moses separated it from the half belonging to the fighting men. It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000 virgin girls. From the half-share given to the people, Moses took one of every fifty prisoners and animals and gave them to the Levites, who maintained the LORD’s Tabernacle. All this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses. [Numbers 31.32-47]

There were ample opportunities in the passage above to decry the ownership of humans, but, the Bible does not make such claims. Slavery is not condemned in the passage above, but simply addressed as a fact of war. It was not about race, but about conquest.

Slavery is indeed a curse, as per Deuteronomy 28, whose root cause is found in disobedience, the same as disease, and poverty.

The only "right" any human has is bestowed by God to those deemed "obedient" (again, as found in Deuteronomy 28). The "rights" appropriated to the obedient are likewise reserved for those exercising the obedience of faith in Christ (Galatians 3.13).

Does God ordain or advocate slavery? Only in the same capacity that God ordains or advocates disease and poverty! However, slavery, disease and poverty are all curses earned by disobedience. In other words, slavery, disease and poverty are the fate of all because, in Adam, all have sinned.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [Galatians 3.13]

Therefore, no believer in God and His Son Jesus Christ, should ever advocate slavery, disease or poverty! But there is a catch! To remediate slavery, disease and poverty by any means other than repentance and faith in Christ is idolatry - it effectively denies the cause-and-effect of sin thus usurping God's design.

The only "rights" due anyone are those bestowed by God upon those who meet His requirements of repentance and faith. Freedom, health and wealth are all God's plan, but they only "belong" to those who are obedient to repent and believe.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [John 3.18]

Father, help us to see that freedom, health and wealth are all Yours to give to those obedient to repent and believe.