God wanted to inspire his people to have enough faith in him, to reject the false security of slavery, and to embrace freedom. And so, God showed his glory at the expense of the tyrant who enslaved them. He goaded Pharaoh to pursue the Israelites, and then, in an awesome display of God's power, he parted the water of the Red Sea, allowing Israel to cross on dry land. When Pharaoh followed, God closed the sea, and drowned the mighty chariots of Egypt. In the process, God had Moses stretch out his hand over the sea, increasing the people's trust in him as leader. And as a result, Egypt ceased to be a threat – all of its military might was gone, and its power to re-enslave was dissipated. “Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”
WE are people whose identity has been forged in the most important story of the NEW Testament. We ARE the people God rescued from slavery to sin, death, and Satan. In the process, God had his son Jesus stretch out his arms on the cross, increasing our trust in God's love and grace. And then, in an awesome display of God's glory, he raised Jesus from the dead, breaking the power of death, and frustrating the plans of the tyrant, Satan. Satan's power to re-enslave is dissipated, unless we offer ourselves to him.
And so, we live as people of freedom! We can move forward in confidence, with the Holy Spirit guiding us like a pillar of fire. We can venture into the unknown, with the presence of Jesus like the presence of an angel of God. We can lean into freedom, choosing freedom, knowing that God has our back. Because we fear and believe in the Lord, and in his son Jesus.
Heavenly Father, show us the path AWAY from those people or things that try to enslave us, and keep us striving toward freedom. Make us your agents of rescue for others, in Jesus name.... Amen.