In this message, Noel addresses the difficult topic of slavery in the Old Testament, specifically within Exodus 21-23. He clarifies that the biblical laws regulated existing forms of servitude rather than instituting or endorsing the type of chattel slavery commonly associated with American history. Riv explains the various forms of ancient slavery, emphasizing that kidnapping and forced enslavement were condemned, and that the laws aimed to protect vulnerable people, including those who entered servitude willingly or through debt.
