This blog post is based on Bob Hoekstra’s popular devotional Day By Day By Grace. For previous posts in this series, click here.
“I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt…I will certainly be with you…I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt…to a land flowing with milk and honey…So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.” (Exodus 3:10, 12, 17, 20)
Again, we see our God of promises pouring out His guaranteed plans like a cascading waterfall. They include God’s promise to deliver Israel. These promises build upon God’s fundamental commitment to Abraham to call out a people for His own glory and purposes. The central promise reveals the rescuing heart of God, who wants to deliver people from bondage, and bring them into blessing. “I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt… to a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Our God frees people from bondage
Our God is a God of compassion. When Israel was in cruel bondage in Egypt, God’s heart was moved with concern. “And the LORD said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows'” (Exodus 3:7). The prophet Isaiah put it this way. “In all their affliction He was afflicted” (Isaiah 63:9). Thus, the Lord committed Himself to deliver them. “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.”
Jesus demonstrated this compassion
When the Lord Jesus walked upon this earth, He demonstrated the same compassion. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). This same loving compassion led Jesus all the way to the cross to deliver us from the bondage of sin.
Beyond bondage
The delivering work of God for Israel was not only from bondage; it was to substantial blessing: “to a land flowing with milk and honey.” Israel was not only rescued from great heartache, but they were brought into a joyous bounty. When Joshua and Caleb saw the land, they described it as “an exceedingly good land” (Numbers 14:7). This same pattern (from bondage to blessing) is how Jesus works on our behalf. He delivers us from spiritual death to fullness of life. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Dear Lord, my Deliverer, I praise You for rescuing me from the bondage of sin. I rejoice that You have brought me into the richness of fellowship with You. What a gracious plan You have provided—to make all of this available by means of Your faithful promises!
jim says
July 11, 2013 at 3:30 pmOur God frees people from bondage–I couldn’t say it better
Jesus demonstrated this compassion–Wow what example to all
Beyond bondage–Ya that’s cool
You think they had to give something up to reap that blessing?
What weeds did they so to speak have to pluck? Or put off or put away from themselves?
I bet cha, if we plucked a few weeds so to speak–Our blessings are just around the corner.
Jim
breaux says
July 11, 2013 at 3:36 pmJesus demonstrated this compassion…
What a great opportunity to make application of this truth. How many times does one forgive? , Jesus was asked, Mat 18:22. Forgiveness becomes a lifestyle, a way to live continually, perpetually.
How about compassion? Is it enough that I was compassionate back in 1976 or should it also be a lifestyle of perpetual compassion?
Now that I’m a little more mature in the Lord, my prayer is that I will be more compassionate to those who our society finds it so easy to overlook or marginalize. yeah, I’m talking about the guy or gal who lives under the bridge by the interstate, or the pan handler whose alcohol tainted breath could bowl me over. But also the less obvious in need of compassion. The woman at the market with three little kids out of control.
My heart is to BE COMPASSIONATE like Jesus. The most compassionate thing I could ever do for another human beings to introduce them to the love of Christ and the truth of His wonderful good news of redemption and justification.
Our God frees people from bondage…Beyond Bondage…is the good news of Jesus Christ that in him alone may we find our way back to God after being separated from him by our sin. Luk 16:13
In His service,
Breaux
Mark Hayes says
July 11, 2013 at 7:12 pmBreaux,
I give the Lord thanks for the words you have shared on foregiveness. Matthew 18:22
Isn’t it interesting that when Cain killed his brother Abel, as he feared vengeance from others, the Lord God promised him that “Whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold.” Genesis 4:15. This is the justice of our God, even for a man who had killed his brother.
Yet later in Genesis 4:23 we see Lamech the 5th descendent of Cain say “I have killed a man for wounding me.” Lamech then goes on to say “If Cain shall be avenged 7 fold then Lamech 77 fold.” This was boasted of by Lamech, NOT spoken by God.
2 points to consider here are;
Firstly, Cain’s lineage when compared with Seth’s makeS no mention of God. There is no record of their length of age (as with the lineage of Seth). So we see the ungodly, their names to be not remembered by the Lord. As we see elsewhere it is written of the unfaithful, their names will be written in the ground. They rejected the Lord Jesus, the fountain of living water so will remain accursed.
Yet wonderfully, and it seems to be a correction to Lamech’s (the 5th descendant of Cain) ungodly boast (how many thousand years later?), the Lord Jesus declares we who are His are to forgive 70 times 7.
As you have written in an earlier post, 2 Samuel 22:4 “I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised and He will deliver (save) me from my enemies” This is the same as in Psalms 18:3.
Vengeance is for God. When we are in trouble we are to do as is written in 2 Samuel 22:4 and Psalms 18:3. God’s wonderful promise here is that He will save us by our praises of His Great and Awesome name.
It is my testimony that the Lord God Almighty keeps this promise! Be it the threat of loss of job due to being a witness for Christ or other.
‘His loving kindness is better than life’
In Christ
Mark H NZ
Bob Demyanovich says
July 13, 2013 at 2:42 amWe are responsible for our behavior not some other agent or agency. Sin seeks excuse. Genesis, the beginning, describes this condition through 2 bloodlines, the murdering son Cain and the replacement son Seth. Cain’s bloodline follows after he extracts a condition of safety for his life on the earth, thus revealing his mind. He ascribes his behavior to others by indicating his fear of being slain. The potential for additional murder is with Cain even after he is assured of his safety. His thought is focused on the physical and his conduct on earth. Cain’s manner is destructive to God’s creation not merely due to the need for others now to defend against murder but due to his focus apart from his creator. Cain’s mind is to acquire and grow for himself preempting the existence of others. This behavior reveals that Cain has no regard for God’s advice.
Observation of the family tree of Cain ends after noting another man is slain by the 5th generation son of Cain, Lamech. At this end point of the mention of Cain’s line of progeny more detail is conveyed. Here is the first instance of more than one wife. Here for the first time excepting Eve, wives have names. There are 3 sons born to Lamech and the first mention of the birth of a daughter. The occupations of the sons are listed, father of such that live in tents and herd cattle, father of all such that handle pipe and organ and, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron. None are involved with farming. Lamech is a murderer in the likeness of his forefather. The lineage of Cain is recognized until the “whom” that is foremost in their worldview and lineage expresses the fruit of such a mind. The course of this lineage has tipped too far into consumption; creation from this mindset will conform to the behavior that evicted the one who was once the son of the morning. Fruits from this condition of being corrupt, there is no mind for God.
Eze 20:44
Donna Sharp says
July 11, 2013 at 5:07 pmI am so grateful My Father, My Christ, rescued me out of a life of bondage under a strong task master and brought me into a land of milk and honey.
Its Glorious and Heaven awaits. What a promise for He Loves us that much.
He has shown himself so mighty in my life it is a testimony of His love for His children and for me!!!
He has promised me an inheritance beyond what I can comprehend. I eagerly await all my Daddy has for me. I can’t even imagine the wonder that waits for me. For all those who love Him.
Sometimes His Love and Power overwhelm me and I hit my knees. I understand the thought of us melting in His presence.
The Oneness and Love of those moments we come into His total presence are the most wonderful things I have ever felt.
Knowing He will bring me through everything He brings me too. Helps me to honor Him, Give Him the Glory for everything around me and in my life.
Father blesses me beyond imagination all day every day in so many ways. We walk, we talk, we laugh, we cry, we pray, we learn, we share my life, the life He has created me to live.
I see His Glory in every little thing that he puts before me.
It was a fight for my life to get here, it wasn’t pretty I had quite the war to wage but He brought me through. Its worth everything.
No truer words were spoken for me than these.
Luke 7:47
“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
For that I give all the Glory to My King….Thanks Be to The great “I AM” “YHWH” “My Daddy” 🙂
Your Child
Donna
breaux says
July 11, 2013 at 5:51 pmThe preciousness of “HIM” Donna is “Enough”.
I have no need for Jesus “Plus” anything.
If I had 10,000 tongues, I’d praise Him with every one.
Your words beckon me to come…closer to the fire…which is the light of His presence.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, freedom, peace.
When i think of what he’s done and who he is, I get overwhelmed with such a sense of gratitude and graciousness afforded to me that I can’t comprehend. I’m so thankful for the body of Christ and the wonderful head, my Lord Jesus Christ, my redeemer.
Tess says
July 12, 2013 at 2:49 pmAmen breaux and Donna!
It’s a peace that passes understanding.
Ephesians 1:13-23
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.