THE JOURNEY TO FREEDOM. T he early books of the Bible are dominated by the story of the Israelites’ journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. In this story we can see similarities to our lives and the journey that God calls each of us to go through toward freedom. No matter how long we’ve been following Christ, we all have areas of our lives where we need more freedom. Here are what some parts of the Israelites’ journey represent to us: THE JOURNEY EGYPT. Egypt represents life far from God. It’s a place of bondage where there is little hope. PHARAOH. Pharaoh represents the enemy who seeks to destroy us. He doesn’t want us to experience freedom and would rather we spend our lives in slavery. MOSES. Moses is a foreshadowing of Jesus who came to lead us away from the enemy and out of bondage. He put His life on the line so that we can experience complete freedom. THE RED SEA. The crossing of the Red Sea represents a specific time and place where God shows up in a way that only He can. It is here where we make a decision to receive everything that God has for us. In that moment He sets us free and the enemy is destroyed. This is when we experience salvation. NO MATTER HOW LONG WE’VE BEEN FOLLOWING CHRIST, WE ALL HAVE AREAS OF OUR LIVES WHERE WE NEED MORE FREEDOM. THE DESERT. The time the Israelites spent in the desert represents a process of growth and development. It is a time of being pastored and helped. Although the Israelites were out of Egypt, they needed this time to get Egypt out of them and to get their hearts right with God. POSSESSING THE PROMISED LAND. After the long journey and many obstacles, the Israelites finally settled in the Promised Land. For us this means growing in Christ and understanding our God-given abilities. As we do that we will come to realize that part of our life needs to include going back to Egypt to help someone else come out. THE THINK SHEET | 1 QUESTION: What has your spiritual journey been like to this point? Can you look back and recognize these parallels in your story? WHERE WE GET STUCK As we think about this spiritual journey toward freedom, many of us get stuck somewhere along the line. It could be because of a heartbreak, a disappointment, an addiction, or even a damaging relationship, but something is keeping us from moving forward. Let’s take a look at some of the places we may get stuck. 1. FAR FROM GOD. î î See Ephesians 2.12 Some of us are stuck in a place we know we shouldn’t be. Although we may look okay on the outside, inside we know we are far from God. It’s a bad spot without much hope. IF WE ALLOW HIM TO, GOD WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE JOURNEY THAT WILL BRING US TRUE FREEDOM. 2. IN BONDAGE. Some of us are trapped and don’t know how to get out. Romans 6.16 tells us that it is because of our choices that we end up in bondage. However, it also gives us hope that we can get unstuck through God’s help. 3. LIVING WITHOUT PURPOSE. î î See Ephesians 2.10. Some of us may seem really successful and with it to those around us. But although we love God and love people, we’re really just going through the motions. On the inside we’re not really living. 4. WITHOUT ETERNAL HOPE. Still others of us may not even be on the journey to freedom yet. We may know we’re supposed to be close with God, but aren’t sure if we are or how to get there. We’re stuck. I John 5.12–13 tells us that we can know that we have eternal life through Christ. QUESTION: Are you stuck in your journey to true freedom? In which of these places are you stuck? What hope can you gain from the Bible passages listed above? GOD’S PROMISE Now that we’ve seen where we might be stuck on our journeys, let’s look at how God will get us unstuck and where He wants to take us. In Exodus 6 God communicates a very important message to His people. He tells them four things that He will do for them if they will allow Him to: “I am the Lord, and I will [1] bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will [2] free you from being slaves to them, and I will [3] redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will [4] take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” ~Exodus 6.6–7 This incredible story of the Israelites’ deliverance is what God wants to do in our lives as well. If we allow Him to, He will take us through the journey that will bring us true freedom. He wants to do for us the four things mentioned in the previous passage as well: 1. BRING US OUT. God desires to set us free and manifest his salvation in our lives. Salvation means so much more than just a ticket out of Hell. It means deliverance, preservation, ransom, rescue and safety. God wants to get us entirely out of Egypt and give us all these things. î î See Acts 4.12 2. SET US FREE. Being set free is not just about getting out of a place where things are bad. It’s also about getting free of the oppression of that place. Sometimes, although we have been saved, we still act like we are slaves. We still let sin call the shots and temptations win. All of us are under construction, and God wants to help us deal with our issues. î î See Romans 8.1–2. Galatians 5.1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Again, this makes it clear that we have a choice to make. It is our choice to be burdened again or to get unstuck and on our way to freedom. THE THINK SHEET | 2 GOD’S PLAN IS TO REDEEM US. HE WANTS TO BRING US BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL PURPOSE AND SPECIFICATIONS. God is doing great things, and that is why He needs us unstuck and moving on the journey. He wants to use us. He has brought us out of slavery and into freedom so that we will go back and get others out. QUESTION: How has God gifted you? How can you use that gift to help others out of bondage? When was the last time you invited someone new to church? What was their response? 3. GIVE US PURPOSE. God’s plan is to redeem us. He wants to bring us back to our original purpose and specifications. That is the whole goal of Christianity. We are saved for a specific plan and purpose. We are all gifted somehow and God wants to use us to bring others to freedom. î î See I Peter 2.9 4. BE OUR FATHER. We are welcomed into God’s family and have the assurance that Jesus is all we need. Our freedom does not depend on our abilities, giving, good works or prayer life. It is all thanks to Jesus. î î See Ephesians 2.15 Edgar Gomez is a friend of Engedi and pastor at the Holland campus of Resurrection Life Church. This Think Sheet is a free resource to aid in personal devotion or group study. For more Think Sheets, or to listen to teachings, go to engedichurch.com. Engedi Church © 2013 710 Chicago Drive Suite 300 Holland, MI 49423-3074 616.796.6799 engedichurch.com THE THINK SHEET | 3