Wednesday: The Jubilee
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 26th of November 2025
The land was so central to the existence of Israel as God’s people that it could not be apportioned as a whole. It had to be divided by tribes, clans, and families (Numbers 34:13-18) in order to prevent it from becoming the possession of a few leading elites.
Read Leviticus 25:1-5,8-13. What was the purpose of the sabbatical year and of the year of jubilee?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
By contrast with Egypt, where citizens regularly lost their land and became Pharaoh’s serfs, the purpose of God for the Israelites was that they would never become indefinitely disenfranchised. Nobody, outside the clan and family to whom it had been originally allotted, could own the land. In fact, according to God’s plan, the land could literally never be sold; it could only be leased according to its value established by the number of years left until the next jubilee. Therefore, the relatives of a person who was obliged to “sell” his ancestral land had the duty to redeem it even before the jubilee (Leviticus 25:25).
The allotment of the land becomes a window into God’s heart. As our heavenly Father, He wants His children to be generous with those who are less fortunate and to allow their lands to feed them every seventh year. The sabbatical year applied the principle of the Sabbath commandment on a larger scale. Besides valuing and encouraging hard work, ownership of the land also calls for respect and kindness to those facing financial challenges.
Land ownership legislation provided every Israelite with the opportunity to be freed from inherited or self-induced oppressive circumstances and to have a fresh start in life.
In essence, this is the main purpose of the gospel: to erase the distinction between rich and poor, employer and employee, privileged and underprivileged, putting us all on equal footing by recognizing our complete need of God’s grace.
Unfortunately, Israel neglected to keep the standard set by God and, after centuries, the warnings of dispossession were fulfilled (2 Chronicles 36:20-21).
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How can the principles of the Israelite land allotment and the Sabbath remind us that, in God’s eyes, we are all equal? How can the Sabbath help us say “no” to the exploitative, vicious cycles of consumerism that plague many societies? |
One of the things I discovered when I was reading about the tithing system in the nation of Israel was how much provision was made for what we would call social welfare. I wrote this up in a couple of opinion pieces some time ago and you can read them here https://ssnet.org/blog/tithe-in-israel-a-summary/, and here https://ssnet.org/blog/tithing-a-hebrew-perspective/ Effectively the Jubilee Year was part of that welfare plan to ensure that the cycle of debt and bondage could be broken and not passed on to other generations.
It is also interesting to note that where the prophets railed against the Hebrews because they had turned away from God and were worshiping idols, they also mentioned that the widows and orphans were not being looked after. In fact Isaiah goes so far as to say that even their Yahweh worship practices were distasteful to him because they were neglecting the needy.
Worshiping the true God goes hand in hand with our concern and action for the members of the community who are needy – even the ones we do not like. Are we too busy with our religion to hear their prayers for help?
God has always provided means and ways for the Children of Israel and mankind in general to have an opportunity for eternal rest and restoration. The Sabbatical Year and Year of Jubilee pointed to the final rest in God’s Kingdom. The cycles of rest (weekly Sabbath → sabbatical year → Jubilee) ultimately anticipated:
• Eternal rest (Hebrews 4:9–10)
• Final restoration of creation
• God’s Kingdom where all is made new (Rev 21–22)
These were symbols of new creation, a taste of God’s future world. As the Year of Jubilee was purposed for land restoration, the release of slaves and servants, the rest of the land and the preservation of tribal inheritance, God was illustrating His power to redeem mankind. This was foreshadowing Jesus as the true Jubilee. Thus, the Sabbatical year reflects God as Creator, while the Jubilee reflects God as Redeemer.
It is critically important to note that God desires a fair economic and social system where nobody is disfranchised. However, ultimately, at the fullness of time, God will proclaim complete liberation, restoration, and redemption in the earth made new. This is our blessed hope.
Jubilee in the book of Leviticus 25 rotates around 3 themes of Release, Renewal and Reversion which point to the good news in the gospel of Jesus Christ message of salvation. Releasing sinners from slavery is what Christ did. By proclaiming liberty to the captives—Luke 4:18, He always reminded believers that freedom was more spiritual than economical, that involved freedom from sin. Second was Reverting property to the true owners which was a pointer that we humanity much needed God more than before; just as land returned to its original owners and families (Lev. 25:10, 23), Jesus stands at the door and calls us to return our talents, our lives, our tithes and offerings, our talents, our priorities and everything to God, thus a call to faithfulness since we are just stewards who must recognize we are not our own since we were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
Finally, in terms of Renewal, land was to rest and grow plants not planted by anbody but God (Lev. 25:4–5), a reflection of the Sabbath principle on God’s restorative grace. Renewal is an invitation to all believers and even non-believers to let go of self-management and surrender to God to reshape and redirect our faith, to embrace a vibrant relationship rather than just being where we have been. Renewal is about Jesus giving us the rest we all urgently need (Matt. 11:28). Jubilee is more of renewal that comes by trusting, resting, and surrendering- new starts; it is more of God providing a reset button. God seeks to give us new beginnings and renew our commitment, our talents, our vision and above all our focus… Christ is seeking to transform us through an invitation to live in Christ (Rom. 12:1–2).
The only “addiction” we should practice is dependence on the Lord. Consumerism may permeate social media, while the contemporary lifestyle has evolved entirely into property collecting. When material things do not attract, “experiences” are the focus. God may want us to be materialally well in life; however, we must recognize that ALL comes from Him. If you and I are healthy and able to work, let us depend on His wisdom to manage the talents He provides for us.
The history of Israel shows that God never gives warnings casually. He had clearly instructed them to allow the land to rest every seventh year—a command that symbolized trust in His provision and acknowledgment of His ownership. Yet Israel repeatedly ignored this requirement. Unfortunately, Israel neglected to keep the standard set by God and, after centuries, the warnings of dispossession were fulfilled (2 Chron. 36:20–21). This teaches us that when we ignore God’s commandments, we may assume His silence means He doesn’t care or that He approves. But God’s silence in times of non-compliance is never approval; it is patience. His mercy delays judgment, but it never cancels His expectations of obedience. Israel’s experience reminds us that God pays close attention, and eventually His word will be fulfilled.
I have often wondered how the Israelites where to get through the sabbatical years and the Jubilee. They were instructed not only to refrain from sowing, but also from reaping that which grew on its own. But then in Leviticus 25:12, it says that they will eat the produce of the fields, which sounds a little contradictory. I assume that God planned to work for them like He did with the manna on Sabbath: more than usual before the sabbatical year or the combination of the 49th sabbatical year and following year of Jubilee, then miraculous preservation of that produce. If that is the case, the Israelites missed quite a blessing by not following God’s plan. Does anyone have more information on how Israel was to survive during a year or two of no harvest?
The land would produce food of itself and you could eat that. Sowing and reaping go together so I understand that as forbidding formal agriculture.
My guess also is that they would prosper so greatly they would be much like Egypt in the years of plenty, storing the harvests for the years when they did not plant. Leviticus 25:20-22 basically confirms this.
Indeed, God had made provision for equality to those that seemed locked out of the ability to ever rise above poverty. The truly needy and unable to work were to be provided for by those with more resources. Debts were to be canceled, also, indentured slaves were to be given the opportunity to go free every Jubilee year.
The laws of the United States and some other countries, allow for the declaration of bankruptcy but it cannot be repeated within seven years. This is designed to help those less fortunate, however, like anything it can be and has been exploited.
The system of benevolence was suposed to be administered by God’s people as an emergency provision for those that could not work to provide for themselves, not those that would not work to do so. When government took it over it unfortunately became a way to keep people dependent upon government handouts to control the way they voted. The safety net became a trampoline. There are now multigenerational families that have become dependent upon welfare as a way of life. We have also encouraged and rewarded the explosion of out of wedlock births, and the dissolution of the nuclear family unit through the government system.
I believe that the scriptures sought to prevent these situations with a simple admonition in 2 Thes. 3:10 and other verses which reference caring for the genuinely needy. Sadly, too many people with the ability to help those less fortunate are consumed with consumerism to the point that they are slaves to their lifestyles of opulence and consumerism, while needy people go unprovided for. We are our brother’s keepers.
Poverty is as much about attitude as it is about resources. I think quite often people on welfare for multiple generations “think poor”. They have a mentality of dependence. It’s easy to criticize them if you haven’t been there, but it’s not so easy to escape these patterns. I have been critical of such people, but as I live, I realize that I’m fortunate not to think that way.
You can be poor and not “think poor”. My grandmother was a widowed mother during the Great Depression and then lived through the deprivations of World War II. Her life didn’t turn around significantly until she married my grandfather after the war (a marriage that produced my father). However, when she talked about life in those years, she never really dwelt on what she didn’t have. I’m sure she was the recipient of charity at times, but it never was something she sought out. In her latter years, living on a small pension, she was always generous in her offerings to the church and other causes. She had a mentality that she was well-cared for and lived accordingly. It’s not a surprise all her children were hard workers and lived reasonably comfortable lives. I have inherited her attitude too.
Ultimately the gospel can rescue people from the welfare way of thinking. I don’t think it’s an accident that the children of Adventist converts typically supersede their parents in wealth and education. But of course that comes with it’s own risks.
Very appropriate. We do too have a lot to be thankful for, not only the day before Thanks-giving, also ongoing as we sojourn, so also the Israelite’s had a lot to thankful for. It seems as though the Lord made provisions way beyond just giving land.
Happy Thanks-giving all.
Regardless of how one may consider him or herself to be special, one thing I for one know for sure is that God’s love and affection for human beings are the same. Father (God) does not discriminate, knowing that His regard towards human beings are the same. He will pour His anger on anyone who may go against His commandment. Regardless of His special affection with you as an individual or a nation, He will exercise His punishment in the same way. Although God has a special relationship with the Israelites, He warned them not to vex or oppress a stranger because they were strangers in Egypt. He warned the Israelites that if they afflict a widow or the fatherless child and they cry and call unto Him, He will hear their cry, and in return, He will kill their wives and make their children fatherless (Exodus 22: 22,24).
Society who yearns to gain from exploitation could set standards to benefit its ambitions, and such a community could also set up Churches to promote God’s work. However, as an Adventist who believes in the Sabbath, you must always bear in mind that you will one day submit your earnings in a form of sacrifice to God, if He rejects your earnings as a result of self-interest exploitation, your work will be in-vain.
To draw a parallel to how the Israelites land allotment and the Sabbath may remind us that, in God’s eyes, we are all the same. Exodus chapter 22 offers solutions to problems that may hinder one from becoming clean before God, and the adaptation of such concepts might help one to meet God’s requirements.
Joshua 24:14-16
”Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!”
God ‘owns’ all the land. To each family was allotted land to become its steward, and each family/house had the individual responsibility to maintain it by their ongoing relationship with God in order to prosper. Joshuah pointed out that he and his house would serve the LORD, but he did not demand or coerce the other tribes to do likewise; he admonished them. Though the people responded: “far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods”, many did just that.
Yes, knowing that we are all equal in God’s eyes is one thing, but living this Truth is what counts. The principles inherent in the Israelite’s individual land allotment and the Sabbath remind me that we are to be good stewards of God’s gifts to us. As such, we carefully consider all aspects of how we interact with each other and the world at large.
We have to recognize that man has been created to ‘love’ our Creator, to praise Him for Who He Is – what He has done for us when He called us from darkness into His Light. Every day and always, we worship Him through our actions in Spirit and Truth – John 4:22-24.
The role of the Israelite landowner was not merely economic but deeply spiritual and communal. Landowners were called to reflect God’s character through their stewardship, ensuring that the land was used in a way that honored God and served the community. The biblical principles surrounding land ownership continue to offer insights into the relationship between faith, community, and the responsible use of resources.
The economic system that God intended for Israel was the perfect balance between capitalism and communism.
People had the incentive to work and prosper. People did reap the consequences of poor economic choices, but the system was also set up to ensure that they could get out of poverty and not be doomed forever. Today we tend to fall into one ditch or the other.