DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Deliverance
by Dan Kidd
In today's passage, we begin amidst a conversation between the Lord and Moses. Moses, barefoot in reverence of this holy space on Mt. Horeb, stood before a bush aflame-but-not-burning, spoke with the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses was clearly uncertain about what he might say to the Israelites about this incredible encounter, and about what God intended for them.
The Lord instructs Moses to tell the elders of Israel, that he has watched over them, that he'd seen what was done to them by the Egyptians and Pharaoh. What's more, he has promised that he will bring them up out of Egypt and into a land flowing with milk and honey, a land currently occupied by several other nations. What it incredible news it must have been to this enslaved and abused people, that the Lord not only has seen them in their times of darkness and oppression, but he is willing and able to liberate them from it. And what a remarkable assignment the Lord gave to Moses that he could share the God's plan for his people with them.
As we read Exodus in this season, we'll be paying attention to the way God's Gospel is spoken throughout the Exodus story. That proclamation of God's deliverance for the Israelites into the promised land was incredible news for them. It was a revelation of the work and character of God, the Lord who would make them his people, and he would be their God. One of the many consequences of Jesus' Gospel is that Christ delivers the world out of misery. As the Kingdom of Heaven breaks in shackles are loosed. In some cases, this is literal--prisoners and slaves are set free. In other cases, we are set free from the the imprisonment of our sins and our consequent death. Jesus' Gospel is good news about freedom and deliverance into the Kingdom and kingship of the Lord. And what a gift it is to us that we can share these proclamations of good news with others!
PRAYER
King Jesus, we thank you for all of the ways that you have set us free to live as we were created to live--under your care, love, and purposes. We thank you for delivering us from our sin, from death, and from the devil. Remind us again of our freedom in your Spirit, and the goodness of your will and way. Give us eyes, ears, tongues, and opportunities to share your good news with those who long to hear it. Amen.
