Page 23 - Living Light Autumn 23

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
David Spriggs and are based on Exodus 13:17-14:4 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Mark 1:14-20
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ 18 So God led the people around by the desert road towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, ‘God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.’
20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of
cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to camp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, “The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.” 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.’ So the Israelites did this.
Sunday September 24 - Before the journey When Pharaoh let the people go... Exodus 13:17
This week we journey with Moses and God’s people to discover more about the way God leads. Before we get under way, we recall that we are only where we are now because God has already been at work on our behalf. Israel could only depart from Egypt to the land of promise because God had been patiently but decisively acting on their behalf. The same is true for us.
While we are not in Egypt, forced to work as slave labour with no rights and little food, the Bible makes it clear that before we become Christians we are slaves. Jesus and Paul describe this as ‘slaves of sin’ (e.g. John 8:34, Romans 7:14). When we become Christians, we are set free from this slavery. But this is only possible because Jesus Christ paid the ‘ransom’ and broke the power of Satan to control and manipulate us.
Like the Israelites, however, we do well to remember that becoming Christians does not mean we are completely free. Pharaoh would soon use his army to try to reclaim his labour force. The memories of life in Egypt still kept the Israelites in a kind of slavery. Our minds, too, can pull us backwards to our past and away from God. Hence, it is essential that we learn how to follow God’s leading.
Living God, we cannot thank you enough that through the death and resurrection of Jesus you have set us free from being slaves to sin. Help us to live in that freedom. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY