Love That Stays

Exodus 21:2-6

"If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. "If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. "If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. "But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man, then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

Commentary:
God was instituting ordinances for the people to follow in the ways of dealing with their servants. When a master purchased a male slave to take care of the needs of the master; after six years, the male slave could go free. However, if the master chose to give the male slave a slave woman as a wife; and she had children for him,  the children, and the wife still belonged to the master. If after six years, the male slave wanted to go free, then he could; but he would have to leave his wife and children behild.

This appears to be cruel treatment at first glance. However, it is indeed provisional care and love for the woman. If the male decided that he would be better off on his own, running his own life, and making all of his own decisions; and that he no longer needed authority over him; then it is best that he leaves by himself. If he decided that he did not love his master enough to stay and serve him; it would only be a matter of time that he decided that he did not love his wife and children; enough to stay with them as well.

If the male decides to stay with the master, the wife and the children; then he truly loves them all, more than he loves himself. This is the love that stays; and refuses to leave those he loves behind; to fend for themselves. The master gave the slave a wife to love, and to be loved; because the slave was indeed a good worker. The wife that the master gave him, was his reward for a job well done. It was not a cruel move of the master to make the slave have to make a decision of whether to stay in bondage for the rest of his life. It was a gesture of love, care and concern. God is the one who sets the solitary in families.

Reflection:
If a man truly loves God, and the wife that God has given him; the last thing on his mind would be to leave her. No one, or no thing, can make him relinquish his professed love for his Savior, or his wife. But, if he does not love the Lord with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength; it's just a matter of time before the evidence of selfish-love enters the equation. Selfish love, however, has no gender whatsoever; and can spring up in the heart of both man, and woman. Therefore, the commitment to the Lord on the part of both parties, must be intact; otherwise a separation on some level in the relationship is bound to occur. Therefore, it is important for both the man, and the woman, to have a solid relationship with God; to build the kind of love that stays.

If a person says that they love you, but they have left you, emotionally, physically, verbally or otherwise, do they really love you?

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:

the slave: 5650
1) slave, servant
a) slave, servant, man-servant
b) subjects
c) servants, worshippers (of God)
d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
e) servant (of Israel)
f) servant (as form of address between equals)


plainly says: 559
1) to say, speak, utter
a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

I love: 157
1) to love

a) (Qal)
1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual
2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom
3) human love for or to God
4) act of being a friend
a) lover (participle)
b) friend (participle)
5) God's love toward man
a) to individual men
b) to people Israel
c) to righteousness
b) (Niphal)
1) lovely (participle)
2) loveable (participle)
c) (Piel)
1) friends
2) lovers (fig. of adulterers)
2) to like

my master: 113
1) firm, strong, lord, master
a) lord, master
1) reference to men
a) superintendent of household,of affairs
b) master
c) king
2) reference to God
a) the Lord God
b) Lord of the whole earth
b) lords, kings
1) reference to men
a) proprietor of hill of Samaria
b) master
c) husband
d) prophet
e) governor
f) prince
g) king
2) reference to God
a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh")
c) my lord, my master
1) reference to men
a) master
b) husband
c) prophet
d) prince
e) king
f) father
g) Moses
h) priest
i) theophanic angel
j) captain
k) general recognition of superiority
2) reference to God
a) my Lord,my Lord and my God
b) Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)

my wife: 802
1) woman, wife, female
a) woman (opposite of man)
b) wife (woman married to a man)
c) female (of animals)
d) each, every (pronoun)

my children: 1121
1) son, grandson, child, member of a group
a) son, male child
b) grandson
c) children (pl. - male and female)
d) youth, young men (pl.)
e) young (of animals)
f) sons (as characterisation, i.e. sons of injustice [for un- righteous men] or sons of God [for angels]
g) people (of a nation) (pl.)
h) of lifeless things, i.e. sparks, stars, arrows (fig.)
i) a member of a guild, order, class


I will not go: 3318
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
a) (Qal)
1) to go or come out or forth, depart
2) to go forth (to a place)
3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
5) to come out of
b) (Hiphil)
1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
2) to bring out of
3) to lead out
4) to deliver
c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth

as a free man: 2670
1) free
a) free (from slavery)
b) free (from taxes or obligations)
 
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Exodus 21 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 30 Jan 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Exd&c=21&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2010). Love That Stays. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com