What does "if he came alone" teach about personal responsibility? Setting the Scene “If he came alone, he shall leave alone; if he was married, then his wife may go with him.” (Exodus 21:3) What the Phrase Communicates • The man’s starting point—“he came alone”—defines his responsibility at the moment of release. • God holds each person accountable for the circumstances he himself brought into a situation. • No added burdens are imposed; no unearned privileges are granted. The outcome matches the initial condition. Personal Responsibility Highlighted • Ownership of Choices – Entering servitude without dependents meant bearing the results personally. – Parallel today: we remain answerable for commitments we make on our own. • Boundaries of Obligation – The master was not required to provide a family the man never had. – Likewise, we should not expect others to solve problems that stem from choices we alone initiated. • Integrity of Covenant – If the servant had a wife, God protected that covenant (“his wife may go with him”). – Responsibility enlarges only when relationships truly exist; imaginary claims carry no weight. Supporting Passages • Galatians 6:5—“For each will bear his own load.” • Ezekiel 18:20—“The soul who sins is the one who will die.” • 2 Corinthians 5:10—“Each will receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.” All underline the same principle: individual accountability before God. Living This Truth Today • Evaluate commitments before entering them; the exit will mirror the entry. • Accept consequences without shifting blame—spiritual maturity grows through honest ownership. • Honor existing responsibilities (family, church, work) just as God honored the servant’s marriage covenant. • Trust that the Lord’s justice is precise—He neither withholds what is ours nor assigns what is not. Takeaway “If he came alone” crystallizes a timeless lesson: the person who steps into a situation bears personal responsibility for how he steps out of it. |
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