In Exodus, we see a God of freedom who leads His people out of captivity after 400 years of slavery. He gives them a wise leader in His friend, Moses. He shows them His awesome power by parting the Red Sea and giving them victory over the Amalekites. He provides for them food from heaven and water from rocks. He takes them to Mt. Sinai where He shows His great love by giving them the law which sets them apart as holy. All of these things take about a year (13-14 months according to most scholars). Then God tells His people it's time. This is what I brought you out of Egypt for...to possess your land of promise. It's time.
and then an 11 day journey became a 40 year desert...
The journey to their land of promise took them through the wilderness...God showed them great wonders in the wilderness, but they were never meant to stay there. God did not bring His people out of Egypt so they could wander around in the desert. That was never His plan. He brought His people out of Egypt to take them into to the sweet land of promise. His desire was to give generously...to richly bless His people. Finally, disobedience, lack of focus and unfaithfulness kept them from receiving the richness God had planned for them. He wanted so much more for them.
He is still a God of freedom who longs to give generously to us.
Jesus frees us from captivity to take us into our land of promise. We are each created with God given purpose and designed to bear much fruit to God's great glory, but, like the Israelites, we spend so much time in bondage or wandering in the wilderness. He wants so much more for us.
Are you a captive? Troy gave a great way to know if you are enslaved in a sermon a few weeks ago. Is there something that brings you to your knees asking for forgiveness before the Lord over and over again? Do you spend communion, a time of remembrance and repentance, focused on the same area of sin each week? Scripture tells us that sin entangles...it binds us. But, Praise Jesus, Scripture also tells us that we have been set free in Christ. Allow the freedom found in Christ loose the sin that binds you...allow His grace and forgiveness seep into the areas of your heart broken and wounded by sin and heal you.
Are you in the wilderness? Look for His wonders. Our God who parted the Red Sea, defeated enemies and fed His people from heaven is with you. He is working even when the desert seems driest. He is leading you to your land of promise. Follow Him. Guard against disobedience, lack of focus and unfaithfulness that can turn an 11 day journey full of His wonder into a 40 year season of wandering through the desert.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of venegeance for our God; to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor
Live in freedom. Possess your promise land. Trade ashes for beauty. Claim the Lord's favor in your life this year. Live to display His splendor.
Kelly
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