A confused Moses once said to God, “Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them.” (Ref. Exodus 5:23)
Bold move. I don’t recommend this approach in conversing with God. But Moses was on a face-to-face basis with the Lord. They had spent extended periods of time together in multiple moments of mountaintop rendezvous. Nonetheless, Moses had preconceived notions of what serving God’s purpose on the Earth would look like. When things went differently than anticipated, he became frustrated. Thankfully for him, God allowed his venting, eventually offering this response, “Lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.” (Ref. Exodus 6:26). Moses’ people didn’t even possess a spear or a sword. And, as Moses noted to God, their taskmaster was becoming increasingly brutal. However, just because things were getting worse did not mean that they were not about to get better. God seemed to be telling Moses, “Act like a slave, and you will be treated like one. Act like a soldier, and you will likewise be treated like one. Choose the latter and watch the desired result unfold.” When you feel like a slave to sin, addiction, or failure, I challenge you to realize God is still calling you out of that encampment -- even on the days when it feels like the bondage is becoming more brutal. Maybe it’s time to confess your own misconstrued perceptions of how commitment to God’s plan would unfold. In doing so, you position yourself to be reminded by God that slaves can’t think like slaves and achieve deliverance -- a transition must take place. Renewal must come to the slave’s mindset. God taught Moses slaves who gain freedom think like soldiers. Rise up. Regardless of how brutal your “Pharoah” might be, your circumstance does not define your destiny. With a renewed mind, putting on the whole armor of God, fight the good fight of Faith. Freedom is in your future. The Captain of the Hosts, Jesus Christ, has ensured that the power of God’s Spirit is with you, in you, and for you. You shall prevail, for greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! After all, you are more than even just a soldier in God’s army -- through the born-again experience of salvation -- you are a child of the Heavenly Father. Onward and upward! Let us cry aloud and spare not as we decree our testimony: I’m no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God
We’ve been liberated
From our bondage
We’re the sons and the daughters
Let us sing our freedom
Check out the song, No Longer Slaves, referenced above, in its entirety here.