I now understand what Paul meant when he wrote..."and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2:15)." Because when you're faced by a force that seems to have all the power, even over life and death, and you think you have no hope, it's easy to submit to its demands. This is how the devil operates. He convinces you that you have no options and that only by following him will you not be killed or brutally oppressed. Therefore, many do submit and become his slaves.
This must be how it felt in 1492 Spain for the Israelites living there. That year marked the end of the Moorish kingdoms of Spain and the rise of the most brutal and demonic force ever seen at the time- the Christians of Spain. They made it clear to the black Jews among them that their best option was conversion to the Catholic Chruch, or face being enslaved in Spain and the New World-soon to be called America. Or they could also be burned at the steak in a public spectacle (which is called lynching in America today and yesterday) along with having all their possessions stolen, including their children 14 years and younger to be given as gifts to the good white Christians of Spain and Europe as house slaves and pets.
In these types of tremendous historical tragedies, it is quite easy to understand how one's mind and soul can be enslaved to an evil entity. Out of share horror and fear of death many gave up their faith, denied their heritage and hid it from their children. But what the devil failed to realize was that the God of Jacob gave his people a weapon to conquer fear, even death and the devil. And that weapon is His holy spirit and his words which he put into their inward parts-the mind. He has said that these, the spirit and the word, will never depart from Jacob, even to a thousand generations (Is. 59:21). The devil failed to understand in his war against the Israelites, that his victory was only short-term. God would never abandon the Israelites to the wicked, no matter how much cruelty they spued out. Jacob is forever destined to rise again according to God's holy words.
So, we, the children of Jacob today, in America, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and around the globe, where we have been scattered by our enemies, can find peace, hope, and strength to stand up to the powers of this present evil world, and say no to lies and the enslavement of our minds and souls by this amazing act of God towards us. Because of his word in us we are not afraid of death anymore, nor of the devil and his angels. We found a way out through the holy scriptures which God gave to us by his holy spirit which abides with us always (Rom. 3:1-4).
Therefore, the more I believe the word of God and the more I pray, my hope grows; and I find peace, strength, courage, and wisdom to endure all things. I know that God cannot lie and all that he has said will come to pass (Num. 23:19, Titus 1:1,2). This, then, is my peace in the midst of all storms (Matt.7: 24,25,26,27, 28,29).
Joel 3:7, 8
Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.
-Zarach
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