This summer our church focused on the Book of Exodus. We learned how an entire nation was released from 430 years of slavery in Egypt. Although the story opens with the Israelites feeling abandoned and forgotten by Yahweh, God describes Himself as having “marked well the plight of My people…heeded their outcry… and am mindful of their sufferings.” (Ex 3: 7) 

When He suddenly shows up as a faithful God who keeps His promises and cares for them, His astonishing miracles secure their freedom. They leave in health and with wealth. Get Free. Live Free.

This summer our church focused on the Book of Exodus. We learned how an entire nation was released from 430 years of slavery in Egypt. Although the story opens with the Israelites feeling abandoned and forgotten by Yahweh, God describes Himself as having “marked well the plight of My people…heeded their outcry… and am mindful of their sufferings.” (Ex 3: 7) 

When He suddenly shows up as a faithful God who keeps His promises and cares for them, His astonishing miracles secure their freedom. They leave in health and with wealth. God gloriously freed each man, woman and child from the tyrants of Egypt! He also did a thorough job of destroying their harsh taskmasters, so they were incapable of pursuing or bringing the Israelites back to captivity. God’s people were free, free, FREE…on the outside!

Their hearts and minds, however, were still under the influence of Egypt. The internal ways of their soul—how they thought, loved, worshiped and lived—needed an overhaul. When they were thirsty and found only bitter water or lacked food, they complained against their leader and rebelled against God’s instructions (Ex 16), despite their promises to obey Him wholeheartedly. Their souls were not transformed. How could they display Yahweh to the nations and not build another version of Egypt?  

God started by giving them detailed instructions on how to worship Him. This would make them distinctively different from other pagan societies. As they followed His plan and built a beautiful Tabernacle (Ex 40), His presence came and filled their house of worship. Yahweh Himself stayed with them on their 40-year journey. Yet they often experienced painful lessons when they failed to trust and obey Him. 

Why was it important for us to study the book of Exodus this summer? Because when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are granted the same kind of glorious redemption from enslavement to the evil one who temporarily rules the world surrounding us. After this initial salvation, however, we--like the Israelites—still need to engage in the ongoing process of making Jesus the Lord of our heart, mind, and will. This is more than becoming free; it is living in freedom. The full salvation of our souls occurs day by day, minute by minute as we choose to obey Him instead of resisting His instructions for our lives. 

In 3 John 2, we learn that God wants us to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. Yes—He created our souls to prosper, but we have to grow into this prosperity. Each of us is on our own journey of transformation back to God’s original design for us. 

I have been a follower of Jesus for almost 50 years and will be on this journey for the rest of my life. Just a few days ago, I returned from a mission trip to Albania where I faced new challenges that I wanted to resolve in my own way. Although it is easier now for me to recognize when I am not showing God’s love or other fruits of the Spirit, it is not always easy to surrender or sacrifice my rights for His will. Although I now know that the more, I cooperate with His character and ways, the sooner I can be given more territory to occupy and rule over. When I surrender to His generous Spirit, for example, our partnership jointly evicts poverty spirits that occupy places here on earth. In the same way, every time you and I collaborate with Holy Spirit, heaven is invading earth through us. (Lk 11:2)

Jesus has invited each of His followers to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. He wants us casting out demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick (Mk 16:15-18). He also wants us discipling nations and teaching new disciples to obey His commands (Mt 28:19-20). We don’t have to go across the globe to do that; we only have to go wherever He sends us. He could direct us to our next-door neighbor, our office colleague down the hall, a check-out clerk at the grocery store, or a former Communist country. Each of us has a promised land that is ours to fill with His glorious presence. All He needs from us are both words and actions that show our souls are continuing to say, “Yes, Lord. Not my will but Yours be done.” (Lk 22:42)   

God gloriously freed each man, woman and child from the tyrants of Egypt! He also did a thorough job of destroying their harsh taskmasters, so they were incapable of pursuing or bringing the Israelites back to captivity. God’s people were free, free, FREE…on the outside!

Their hearts and minds, however, were still under the influence of Egypt. The internal ways of their soul—how they thought, loved, worshiped and lived—needed an overhaul. When they were thirsty and found only bitter water or lacked food, they complained against their leader and rebelled against God’s instructions (Ex 16), despite their promises to obey Him wholeheartedly. Their souls were not transformed. How could they display Yahweh to the nations and not build another version of Egypt?  

God started by giving them detailed instructions on how to worship Him. This would make them distinctively different from other pagan societies. As they followed His plan and built a beautiful Tabernacle (Ex 40), His presence came and filled their house of worship. Yahweh Himself stayed with them on their 40-year journey. Yet they often experienced painful lessons when they failed to trust and obey Him. 

Why was it important for us to study the book of Exodus this summer? Because when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are granted the same kind of glorious redemption from enslavement to the evil one who temporarily rules the world surrounding us. After this initial salvation, however, we--like the Israelites—still need to engage in the ongoing process of making Jesus the Lord of our heart, mind, and will. This is more than becoming free; it is living in freedom. The full salvation of our souls occurs day by day, minute by minute as we choose to obey Him instead of resisting His instructions for our lives. 

In 3 John 2, we learn that God wants us to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. Yes—He created our souls to prosper, but we have to grow into this prosperity. Each of us is on our own journey of transformation back to God’s original design for us. 

I have been a follower of Jesus for almost 50 years and will be on this journey for the rest of my life. Just a few days ago, I returned from a mission trip to Albania where I faced new challenges that I wanted to resolve in my own way. Although it is easier now for me to recognize when I am not showing God’s love or other fruits of the Spirit, it is not always easy to surrender or sacrifice my rights for His will. Although I now know that the more, I cooperate with His character and ways, the sooner I can be given more territory to occupy and rule over. When I surrender to His generous Spirit, for example, our partnership jointly evicts poverty spirits that occupy places here on earth. In the same way, every time you and I collaborate with Holy Spirit, heaven is invading earth through us. (Lk 11:2)

Jesus has invited each of His followers to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. He wants us casting out demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick (Mk 16:15-18). He also wants us discipling nations and teaching new disciples to obey His commands (Mt 28:19-20). We don’t have to go across the globe to do that; we only have to go wherever He sends us. He could direct us to our next-door neighbor, our office colleague down the hall, a check-out clerk at the grocery store, or a former Communist country. Each of us has a promised land that is ours to fill with His glorious presence. All He needs from us are both words and actions that show our souls are continuing to say, “Yes, Lord. Not my will but Yours be done.” (Lk 22:42)