When we pick back up in the Exodus story, the Israelites had gotten ready to go as the Lord had commanded. They had covered their doorposts with the blood of a spotless lamb as a sign for the death angel to Passover their home. God had made a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. When the final plague descended on Egypt, the Israelites were spared, and Pharoah was finally ready to let them go. So what did they do? Did they linger in captivity? No! They left without delay! Freedom was set before them, so they packed up their stuff, baked their bread without waiting for it to rise, and got out of there!
What are you waiting for?
When I reflect on the strongholds and struggles I’ve been set free from, I can’t help but shake my head and wonder what took me so long. Freedom in Christ had been set before me, but instead of listening to the Holy Spirit, obeying God, and making different choices, I stayed stuck.
If the story of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt read like my own freedom story, instead of saying, “they left without delay,” it would say, “they lingered in captivity.” And if I was reading a story like that, I’d think they were crazy! I’d shout, “Here’s your chance! What are you waiting for?!”
Don’t linger in captivity.
Too often we choose to linger in our strongholds and struggles rather than leave them behind. Maybe we fear the unknown. Maybe we’re still enjoying parts of our captivity. Or maybe we aren’t listening to God, and we miss the opportunities He gives us to get out of there.
The Israelites didn’t stop and ponder what the journey into freedom would look like. They saw their God-given chance, and they took it, trusting God with the rest.
Whatever it is that you are captive to, God wants to set you free, and He will make a way! He will open and close doors. He will send people into your life to lead you into freedom. He will empower you to make different choices. But at the end of the day, whether you pack up and get out of there or choose to linger in captivity is up to you.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1 ESV
The ultimate freedom Christ came to offer you is freedom from the eternal consequences of your sin. Before you can be free from anything else, you must be free from that. If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus, don’t wait another moment. The Bible says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) Don’t wait another moment to leave the old behind and step into a new life with Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
(For further reading: Exodus 12, Galatians 5)
