Calling: The Road to Freedom and Serving God

God’s mighty deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt is a foundational narrative whose impact has cut right through history and continues to be a motivational force for action to this day.

First, for Israel the Exodus was their founding moment as a nation. The children of Israel joined had Joseph in Egypt and were invited by Pharaoh to settle in the land of Goshen where they prospered. Later, the work of Joseph was forgotten and a new king, worried about the numerous Israelites, enslaved them to ruthless harsh labour (Exod 1). It has been noted that their slavery had political, economic, social and spiritual dimensions. The story of the Exodus begins with the LORD hearing their groaning, remembering his covenant and looking upon them with concern. He is a God who notices them, feels their pain and determines to act.

As the story progresses from Egypt to the promised land, we see there is full redemption with God transforming all those dimensions, giving Israel a new identity such that they were able to worship and serve him. Through this powerful deliverance his intent is that his name might be revealed to Israel (Exod 6:2–8) and proclaimed in all the earth (Exod 9:16, 29). This story is frequently recalled later in the Old Testament, even to the point of asking God to do it again (Hab 3:2).

Second, this is precisely what happens as Jesus effects a new or greater Exodus. He relives Israel’s story – he is declared Son of God at his baptism, overcomes temptations in the wilderness, is imbued with the Spirit of God, gives his new law on a mountain, does mighty deeds over creation, sickness and unclean spirits and leads people on the way to the new creation. He delivers us from slavery to the power of sin and sets us free as sons and daughters to serve the Living God in his kingdom. Paul too expounds this Jesus-inaugurated New Exodus for us and creation in Romans 8.

Third, many people in history have drawn inspiration from the Exodus story as they have seen or experienced the plight of enslaved people. William Wilberforce worked tirelessly over many years to bring about the abolition of slavery, recognising God’s creation of all people to be equal. The impact of the Exodus on the US civil rights movement is well known with one prominent leader even writing a book entitled, “Go and Tell Pharaoh.” And efforts to end modern day slaveries such as human trafficking or child labour have often used the overarching narrative that God created people to be free.

Although much of Western thinking today is still exodus-shaped, it no longer sits within the overall biblical narrative, the Big Story, and God’s larger purposes in the world. This means that the goal of freedom is being able to do what we please, rather than to worship the LORD and serve him. This sadly encourages selfishness and often results in further unhealthy slaveries.

Let us, therefore, enter into the freedom that Jesus has won for us and serve God with his heart of noticing, feeling the pain of and determining to act for those in bondage in our city and beyond. In this way, we will work with God in bringing about his justice, freedom and life for others.