Pastor Austen Ukachi
The Psalmist in chapter 22:4,5 wrote about the deliverance of the children of Israel thus: “Our fathers trusted in you; they they trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were delivered, they trusted in you, and we’re not ashamed“.
If our fathers trusted God and he delivered them, it follows that if we trust him he will also deliver us. If for their faith he did not allow them to be put to shame, then it follows that if we trust God he will not allow us to suffer shame (Psalms 22:4,5).
In Israel, God demonstrated the power of his deliverance. In Exodus.6:6-8, God’s plan for the deliverance of Israel was captured in these words:
“I will bring you out from the burdens of the Egyptians.”
“I will rescue you from their bondage, and”
“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments”.
Note the words, “burdens of the Egyptians” and “bondage“. The burdens of the Egyptians represent the burdens of our past and slave Masters. Many of us still carry the burdens of our past. Our past includes our lifestyles, habits, ways of thinking and behaviour. Like Israel, God promises to deliver us from the burdens of our past.
God’s deliverance is never complete unless we are brought into the land or place of freedom. Deliverance is a transition from bondage to freedom; it is a transition from darkness to light; a movement from the place of restriction to liberty. It is an exchange of one Master for another, one a slave Master, the other a freedom giving Master. This was what God did for Israel. He brought them “out” of Egypt so that he may bring them “into” Canaan. He said to them in Exodus 6:8, “And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am The Lord.”
Strangely, the reaction of the children of Israel to God’s plan is one of unbelief: “but they did not heed Moses, because of the anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.” One would have thought they would have gladly welcomed what God sent Moses to do. The depth of their sufferings made it difficult for them to belief God.
We have the opportunity today to change our position, to move from darkness to light and to determine who our Master should be.
