Most people do not recognize that everyone in the world is under some form of slavery. We are all slaves to many things in varying degrees. The foundation upon which world culture is based encourages, promotes, and forces us into a life of slavery. Governments thrive on enslaving people. The global scourge of slavery is the essence of the Babylonian slavery system that the prophet Jeremiah warned about. Satan, the Adversary, has done a tremendous job of enslaving the whole world under his system of slavery. Even human beings are reduced to cargo, traded as slaves to drive the engines of production, prosperity, and sinful pleasures. Israel's history shows that when her people are scattered, the majority of the men, women, and children go into slavery into captivity. Long ago, God warned the children of Israel about what would happen if they committed idolatry, mistreated one another, and shunned Him. He promises the latter-day remnant of the descendants of Israel that, if they genuinely seek to submit to Him, He will save them from their scattered condition and bondage. We have all been enticed by this anti-God, anti-Christ system of slavery to some degree or another. God urges His people to take action and not live as the world does, commanding them to flee from Babylon the Great to avoid being lured into sin by her evil ways and caught in her looming destruction.

Life was burdensome to the Israelites during Solomon's reign, as his extensive building projects placed a heavy burden of servitude on the people. When Rehoboam, his son, began to reign, the people appealed to him, saying, "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you." They did not ask for the load to be removed, only lightened, which was not an unreasonable request. However, Rehoboam, taking bad advice, responded, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke," making their burden even heavier. Symbolically, a yoke in the Bible often indicates bondage or servitude, as seen in the slavery of the children of Israel in Egypt. In Isaac's blessing of Esau, the yoke of servitude was placed on him because he became subject to Jacob. All have placed themselves under the yoke of bondage to sin. God warned the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28:48 that, if they failed to serve Him properly, He would allow their enemies to fit them with a yoke of iron—a heavy, uncomfortable, unyielding restraint used to punish His people for their sins. People bring this yoke upon themselves through disobedience, and if they do not repent, this heavy yoke of sin will destroy them. Jeremiah laments that the yoke of transgressions was bound and thrust upon his neck, causing his strength to fail as the Lord delivered him into the hands of those he could not withstand.

Slavery, as a concept, represents a burden of dominance and submission, where one person owns another and can demand labor or services. It has been known by many names, including bondage, servitude, serfdom, and trafficking. In a broad sense, all are slaves to something, whether to governments, laws, corporations, pop culture, satan, sin, or human nature, submitting to whoever or whatever holds influence over them. Slavery has been a common reality throughout human history, affecting people of various racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, and political backgrounds. Even now, thousands suffer as child sex slaves, enduring horrific abuse across the world. In the biblical narrative, the slavery of the nation of Egypt stands as the primary example of physical bondage, while the Exodus represents physical freedom through redemption, introducing the idea of new ownership. Israel, no longer belonging to Pharaoh, now belongs to God, marking a spiritual dimension to both bondage and deliverance. However, this freedom was temporary, as disobedience to covenant obligations led to renewed bondage, seen in cycles of enslavement to enemies and eventual deportation to Assyria. Physical bondage in these accounts is tied to the spiritual state of the nation, with disobedience as the clear cause. In contrast, spiritual liberty comes from obeying God and conforming to His will. Jesus Christ's ministry focused on spiritual liberation, proclaiming liberty to the captives and offering deliverance from sin's imprisonment. This gospel does not literally open prison doors but releases the mind held captive under sin, providing comfort and the promise of breaking all chains of slavery. Christ is authorized to set at liberty those who are oppressed, freeing them from the pressure of sin and calamity. True freedom in Christ is not a license to sin but a release from the bondage of sin, satan, and selfish desires. Sin enslaves, while Christ sets free, imparting liberty through truth. This spiritual liberty results from the indwelling of the Spirit, where distinctions like slave and free disappear, uniting all as one in Christ Jesus. Those set free by Christ are no longer slaves to sin but become slaves to righteousness, serving God in a beneficent form of bondage that is easy and light, providing rest for the weary.