Freed

I'm sure you've all heard this story before. It's the oldest story in the book. Well, technically it's like the third story in the second chapter of the book. What story is this? The story of Moses and the burning bush. It's a pretty simple story. Moses walks by a burning bush that is on fire, but not consumed by the fire. Moses is mesmerized by this and goes to see what this is all about. When he gets to the bush God begins to talk to him. God calls him to "Let my people go!" Or was that Moses to the Pharaoh... Anyways, God calls Moses to go into Egypt and demand that the Pharaoh release the imprisoned Jews.  Then Moses and God go back and forth because Moses doesn't believe that he is the great leader that God is calling him to be. But God knows that he is. Eventually, Moses loses the battle, and goes on to free the Jews from Egyptian slavery. 

Normally this story is told to bring up leaders from the congregation. It's a very inspiring story for those who want to be great leaders, but are afraid they won't add up to their calling. I believe that is a great way to use this story. But this morning as I was reading the story for my daily devotions something else from the story stood out to be. It came from when God was talking to Moses. 

Moses had come to the bush and God instructed him to take off his shoes for he was now standing on holy ground. Then God began to reveal to Moses what He was asking of him. God said "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey..." Exodus 3:7-8 (NRSV)

Look at what God is saying. He has seen the misery of His people. He has heard their cries. He knows their suffering. He has come down to deliver them from their oppressors. Does this sound familiar? It should. God is doing the same for the enslaved Jews as He has done for us. He has seen our misery. He has heard our cries. He knows our suffering. Through Christ He has come down to deliver us from our oppressors; our sins. 

So, who are we going to be? Are we going to be like the Jews and once we're freed only long for the life we once had imprisoned in Egypt? Only long for our life full of sin and no forgiveness? Or are we going to keep our heads pointed to the destination, to the promise. The promise that God will bring us up out of the bad and into the good and broad land flowing with milk and honey. 

We cannot let our sins become our identity. Don't even let it be the ground you stand on. Don't let it be the thing that defines you, waking up each morning wondering, "Will I fall into this sin again?" or "Will I ever not feel like a victim of my past?" Let it be the starting point. The beginning, but not the end. Something important to the progression of the story, but not something that defines the story. Allow it to be a thing of healing, not of torture and identity. But rather allow Christ to be your sole identity. Look forward to the reward, the promise. Just as God has freed the Jews from slavery, He has freed us.