Freedom

“Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.”
~ Exodus 6:6

Americans value freedom. We understand that freedom comes at a great price. We know that freedom is not simply a luxury to be enjoyed, but a responsibility to be honored. Freedom takes courage, devotion, and sacrifice. We know these things because of our own history. The American Revolution and the writing of the Constitution help us understand the cost and duties of freedom. We are reminded of the responsibilities, privileges, and joys of freedom when we see the American flag, participate in an election, or visit an historical monument or sight. The reminders of freedom are all around us.

Israel, too, understood freedom. There was a time when the people of Israel lived in slavery. God paid a steep price to free them from the bondage of the Egyptians. God instituted the Passover to remind them of His movement and the grace that set them free. God gave them the Law at Mt. Sinai so that they could live free from the world and in the presence of a holy God. Exodus is the story of how God brought freedom to Israel.

Exodus is also the story of how God brings freedom to us today. In the pages of Exodus, we see that man often lives in bondage. Today we struggle with the bondage of sin. It is not God’s intention that we suffer in sin. He wants to bring us freedom. So God provides a Lamb, Jesus Christ, to give us the freedom to follow Him and be His children. He teaches us to walk with Him through life. As you read the Book of Exodus this week, remember how God makes you free as you follow the spiritual journey of Israel from Egypt to the border of the Promised Land.