Galatians
5:1 (NIV)
Freedom
is defined as the state of being free or at liberty as opposed to slavery or
bondage.
The
Israelites were held in slavery for many, many generations. (400 years
according to Acts 7:6 and Genesis 15:13)
When God delivered them from their captors (Egypt) you would think they
just walked out into the world and claimed their freedom. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Even though they had been delivered from
slavery they still had the minds of slaves.
They were not living in freedom.
Deliverance is only part of freedom. An important part no doubt, but still just a
fragment. We need to be delivered from
our captors such as addictions, strongholds, lies and fear to name a few. Then we need to receive the freedom that
comes with deliverance.
The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40
years. Delivered but not really living
in complete freedom. Their minds often
still held in the bondage of slavery.
Wondering if it might be easier just to go back to slavery than live a
life delivered but not really free. They
enslaved themselves even amidst their own deliverance.
How many of us live just like them? I know I have struggled for many years knowing
God said I was delivered from an addiction but still living in a mindset of
captivity. That’s not freedom. Freedom is no chains. Freedom is the ability to live without
constant fear of falling back into that trap if I take one misstep. Freedom means I don’t just throw it all away
if I do make a mistake. It means I can
accept God’s mercy and move forward with grace.
To me it means the enemy can’t use the addiction I was delivered from to
pull me back to slavery. I AM free! I need to claim it and not look back.
The Israelites wandered in their deliverance
for way to many years. So do many of us!
Often we’re too paralyzed by fear to
know what steps we need to take from deliverance to freedom. Every time they let their eyes drift from God
they would wallow in their circumstances.
I’m guilty of the same. If I take
my eyes off Jesus for even a brief time the enemy tries to drag me back to the
desert!
The Israelites could see the Promised
Land. Freedom was within their
reach. They stood on the hill to
look. They even stepped out into freedom
to check it out. Unfortunately, all most
of them could see were giants in the land.
So they grumbled amongst themselves.
It spread like a virus. How could
freedom lie there? It was there because
God promised it! So in an act of
disobedience and lack of faith they turned away from their own freedom. Just to walk back into where they had been
delivered out of slavery to. Stuck in
limbo. Not slaves but not free.
Let’s be like Joshua and Caleb and despite
the giants we face, receive the gift of freedom Christ has promised us. Accept the deliverance He has given you and
walk out into freedom.
Jesus, help me to accept Your deliverance as
a done deal. Never again to pick up that
yoke of slavery. I know my freedom is IN
You. Give me the strength through Your
Holy Spirit to make the choice to walk in freedom each day. Keeping my eyes on You and Your promises! In Jesus name, Amen!
