It is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that He swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king ofEgypt.

Deuteronomy 7: 8

When I think about the Hebrew people during their time of captivity inEgypt, my mind brings out images that are straight out of film or that are the drawings in an old pictorial guide to the times of the Bible. What these images have in common is that they are totally disconnected from my reality. Frankly, I can’t remember a time when I or my friends pretended to be either Egyptians or Hebrews during neighborhood play. We did enact epic battles between cowboys and Indians and ones that involved knights or Robin Hood’s band, but we never set our games in ancientEgypt. Still, Moses’ words strike me as being spoken about my life and this world.

Slavery is too common. Everyone is faced with it and with dealing with its oppression. Unfortunately what I have found our personally is that a very large portion of the time that is spent under the harmful control of something or someone is the direct result of my own decisions. Things have not changed all that much in all of these thousands of years, or so it would seem. The Hebrews allowed themselves to be subjected to Pharaoh’s rule. They went toEgyptto gain security and comfort. They placed themselves under the authority of a person and trusted in his goodness and mercy. In the end Pharaoh proved to be exactly what they should have been able to anticipate, for he followed the leading of the god that he worshiped and distrusted these people who worshiped the true God.

There is one place that all people can go to be assured of security and mercy. There is one source for safety and for salvation from the slavery that oppresses our souls. God promised all of us that He would save us. He has fulfilled that promise completely. Christ answers all of our needs. He strikes the blow that shatters the chains that hold our hearts in bondage. His word is clear and His Spirit is present. Christ leads each of His people out of the darkness that we have allowed to surround our minds. His glory will penetrate the blindness that fear, despair, and confusion create. The journey into freedom is not usually easy. It requires trust and courage to leave the false comfort of captivity, but Christ does keep His promise, and He joins us in the journey. In the end, it is glorious to breathe the fresh air of freedom in the presence of God.