In what words does
the Bible describe the bondage of Israel in Egypt?
"And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt
died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage,
and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the
bondage." Exodus 2:23. Compare with James 5:1-4.
Who heard their
cries for help?
"And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his
covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." Exodus 2:24.
What did God tell
Moses to do?
"Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come
unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians
oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that
thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of
Egypt." Exodus 3:9,10.
In giving His law
to His people, how did God describe Himself?
"I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the
land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Exodus 20:2.
What did God do to
protect Israel against slavery?
"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. And when thou sendest him out free
from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: Thou shalt furnish
him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy
winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt
give unto him. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the
land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command
thee this thing to day." Deuteronomy 15:12-15.
"Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were
strangers in the land of Egypt." Exodus 22:21. (See also 2 Corinthians 1:2-4.)
What was one of the
reasons that Israel should keep the Sabbath?
"And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt,
and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand
and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee
to keep the sabbath day." Deuteronomy 5:15.
What proclamation
was made every fifty years?
"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty
throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be
a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and
ye shall return every man unto his family." Leviticus 25:10.
Because Israel
failed to do this, became oppressive and forsook the Sabbath, what did God
do?
"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." Jeremiah
34:17. (See also Jeremiah 17:24-27; 2 Chronicles 36:19-21.)
What fault did the
God of heaven find with Israel's religious gatherings?
"Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore
have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the
day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with
the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make
your voice to be heard on high." Isaiah 58:3,4."
What does God set
forth as the fast acceptable to Him?
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands
of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the
oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal
thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast
out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" Isaiah 58:6,7.
Why did Christ come
to this world?
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent
me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised." Luke 4:18.
In what condition
are those who commit sin?
"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." John
8:34.
Why was Christ's
name to be called "Jesus"?
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name
JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew
1:21.
What lies at the
root of all sin?
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15.
"What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not
known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law
had said, Thou shalt not covet." Romans 7:7.
Which passage of
Scripture reveals that all men should have an equality of human rights?
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children
of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am
the LORD." Leviticus 19:18.
What rule of life
has Christ Himself given to guide us in such unselfish living?
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and
the prophets." Matthew 7:12.
Who alone can
remove the selfishness from the hearts of men?
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts
4:12. (See also 1 John 1:9.)
Who, alone, then,
is able to give to men genuine freedom?
"If the Son therefore shall make you
free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36.
What was the
attitude of Christ toward unbelievers?
"And if any man hear my words, and believe
not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but
to save the world." John 12:47.
What attitude did
Jesus say should control all of His disciples?
"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye
know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship
over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so
shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you,
shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest,
shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many." Mark 10:42-45.
Wherever the Spirit
of God is guiding in men's lives, what is always present?
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17.
What kind of
worship can alone be acceptable to God?
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for
the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John
4:23,24.