We are born slaves – even living in America, the land of the free, where we exercise a host of freedoms; yet, we are slaves. So, how is it that we are slaves? Consider:
1) We are born slaves to the curse in that we are surrounded by death and succumb to death – we all do!
2) We are slaves to our DNA – I’m not tall, I’m not fast, I’m not smart and I’m not good looking. I’m a slave to my DNA.
3) We are slaves to our past. Where we are born and how we were reared in which we had no or little say and such hugely influences us today. We can’t cast it aside nor claim it has no influence.
4) We are slaves to the emotions of fear, guilt and anger.
5) We are slaves to circumstances – we have no control over a storm, the company being scuttled, or governmental policies demanding registrations and paying taxes.
6) We are slaves to Satan – his lies and manipulations.
Yes, we are slaves and we are hopeless. We are unable to defeat any of these issues and thus we have NO hope!
Unless… unless there is something outside who has the wisdom, power and love to break us out.
AND THERE IS! Hallelujah!
As Moses was called and empowered by God to break the slavery chains and lead a people out, so God Himself came to free slaves. For those who agree with Him and submit to Him, they can be freed! Jesus can set us free (John 8:32, Gal. 5:1).
How wonderful it is to be free! Free AND put right back into slavery! What???
Yes, slavery, but a very different type of slavery!
Consider the example of the children of Israel who were slaves in Egypt for 400 years and freed by God using Moses – they were freed from an evil, painful and hopeless life, but NOT to do their thing. Rather, they were told precisely what to do (take in a perfect lamb, put its blood on the doorposts and eat it with sandals on) and then directed to follow the cloud of God which led them into a trap – water before and an enemy army behind. Then they were led into the terrible wilderness to live on “bread and water” for many years. The new life had all the elements of slavery – told what to do, where to go, when and where to camp, how to serve (keep Sabbath and worship rules), what to eat, and to fully obey the master – Moses!
For Christians, those truly saved, God has broken them out of slavery to fear, guilt, anger, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Such is truly freeing – a huge blessing – a great joy! Yeah!
If saved, however, God has called those freed to follow Him, to obey Him, and to serve Him every day and He has promised to meet all their needs (I Corinthians 6:19-20 – bought, not your own!). That does not mean a new car, full cupboards, or no sickness. In fact, it will include trials and troubles – maybe having to collect your own manna and suffer snakebites. But, being His, they can look beyond the suffering to a glorious life over there (Hebrews 12:2, the Promised Land).
So it is that ALL men are slaves – some in an Egypt and some in a wilderness. The first have no hope and only a bland and fearful existence now, while the other group have great hope past death and a very interesting and joyful existence now – “tenting tonight” under the eye of God Almighty.
The second group keeps hearing about a far land that “flows with milk and honey”; a land of great beauty and blessings. Once the wilderness “slavery” is ended, Heaven awaits! The new slavery is so different from the first for the new Master is truly benevolent and also amazing. He is a joy to fully follow, serve, and celebrate today knowing He cares, carries, and comes!
a PK Musing 
Leave a comment