The Sabbath is a liberating to both the debtor and the debt-holder in that everything in the land belongs to God. The Israelites are supposed to use the land in respect to Gods commands because the land is for God, and they are strangers and foreigners. The jubilee is a great day that all that had been spent would be reinstated by God to the Israelites. Whatever the debtor spent on the debt-holder shall be refunded by God on the jubilee day. The debt holder would also be paid an amount of time he spent working to pay the debt. In addition, the debt would be cleared on the jubilee. Each of the people whether debtor or debt-holder shall return to their family property and their clan. They would, therefore, be liberated. Once the trumpet is sounded on the Sabbath day and the Israelites observe the Day of Atonement; and consecrate themselves they would automatically be liberated by the mercies and grace of the Lord: The God who brought them from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land (Leviticus 25-26).
On the fifth year, they would not grow or reap what grows for itself or even harvest the unintended vines. The jubilee is holy for every Israeli because God would redeem all of their needs in the coming years. They are liberated and; therefore; they are free on condition that they observe Gods commands. Everyone would return to their property in the year of jubilee. The year of jubilee is liberating in that every property sold would be redeemed on the day. People would never lose their assets for lack of money. The God of Moses will facilitate the liberation by restoring all the lost years of gains for both the debtors and the debt-holders if they obey his commands.
Question 2
I have a feeling that the consequences are natural happenings that follow the described behavior as well as arbitrary punishment. It is normal for the rains to fall and people to do planting. The ground would yield a crop if it is fertile enough, and there is rainfall. Trees would also bear fruits. Seasons do vary and, therefore, while rainy seasons, people plant and harvest as the season enters the other. Sometimes they harvest enough that is stored till the other season. Other seasons the harvest is low. Nowadays people have developed technology that enables them to plant season-long through irrigation of even the land that was considered dry due to lack of rainfall. God is merciful, and I believe he cannot allow his people to suffer. Terror and other diseases that befall human are; as a result, of human behavior and actions. God says in the chapter that if His commands are not adhered to then He would set his face against the Israelites and they would be defeated by their enemies. They would be ruled, and they would flee their homes even when not pursued.
On the other hand, it is normal for people to lose in a war and, as a result, of the conflict, infrastructures are destroyed, and people might suffer from common diseases and malnutrition. Weaker people will always run from the aggressor because of fear of the enemies’ strength. For instance, one cannot say that God allowed Russia to invade Ukraine and do what it did. It is a natural human character that has led to the war. God wants people to observe his word so as to live in peace. Failure to which results into conflicts. He says that if people return to him, confess their sins and unfaithfulness of their ancestors, and hostility towards him, he will remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and ultimately the land.
Quesion3
Jubilee practiced in our land in not that clear today. We are not quite sure of the real Sabbath day that is spoken of in the Bible or the value behind it. Every denomination has its interpretation of the same. Some believe that the day of jubilee is on Sunday, other believe and rest on Friday, Saturday and others on Monday. It is believed that that whichever the day that has been chosen, it is a holy day to worship God and people are not allowed to work on that day. Living conditions and status of people are different. Some would not rest on that day because they would miss what to eat and. Therefore, they have to work. On the other hand, there are those who do not believe in anything: earthiest. They do not practice such activities.
Works Cited
Leviticus 25-26, New International Version (NIV). Available at
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2025-26
