“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

“’If an alien or a temporary resident among you becomes rich and one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells himself to the alien living among you or to a member of the alien’s clan, 48 he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his relatives may redeem him: 49 An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. 50 He and his buyer are to count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price for his release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired man for that number of years. 51 If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption a larger share of the price paid for him. 52 If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to compute that and pay for his redemption accordingly. 53 He is to be treated as a man hired from year to year; you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly. 54 “’Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, 55 for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 25:47-55 NIV

Under the Old Covenant, if the Israelites owed a debt they could not pay, they were sold into slavery. However, they retained the right to redeem themselves—to buy themselves back out of slavery. If they prospered enough to cover the debt, they could redeem themselves, otherwise they needed to be redeemed by a wealthier family member. If they were not redeemed, they remained enslaved until they were set free in the Year of Jubilee.

Adam and Eve initially belonged only to God, but through sin and disobedience they became slaves of the devil and all mankind together with them from then on. We all became subject to the devil and his death and destruction in our lives. Psalms 49:7-9 AMP tells us that, “None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—8 For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice—So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.” At that point, not one man or woman could ever redeem themselves back from the devil, because the ransom of a life is too costly and all the wealth of the world would never be enough to pay for even one life. Mankind was doomed to end up in hell! We were desperately in need of someone with the means to come and redeem us. Father God promised a Redeemer for those who put their trust in Him and from then on His people looked for their Redeemer to come.

David rejoiced in the promise of God, that He would send a Redeemer, “But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah.” (Psalms 49:15 AMP) David encourages Israel to continue look to the Lord for their redemption, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is mercy and loving-kindness, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.” (Psalms 130:7-8 AMP)

Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. Matthew 20:28 AMP

For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 AMP

Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), 14 Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. Titus 2:13-14 AMP

But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]. 1 Corinthians 1:30 AMP

Thank God, Jesus came to ransom and redeem us and buy us back from slavery to sin and the devil. Only Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, could afford the price of our redemption. The price was His own life—His precious blood poured out as a sacrifice! He gave His life as a ransom for ALL! Everyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior is redeemed from out of the devil’s grip straight into the arms of God! We belong to Him and only Him. The devil no longer has any more rights over us! Colossians 1:13-14 AMP says, “[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus is my Savior, my Redeemer and my Jubilee!! Thank God, I can rejoice with Job and David and all the saints and say, “For I know that my Redeemer lives!” (Job 19:25)