Set Free by an Outstretched Arm

Israel, a picture of the Christian life

Today's Through the Bible Reading: Exodus 4:18–7:13; 1 Chronicles 6:1–4

“…I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.” Exodus 6:6

God promised Moses that He would deliver them from Egypt; that they would be freed from their bondage; that He would redeem them with His mighty arm.

Remember, Jesus is the very essence of the Scriptures. The Old Testament pointed to Him and the New Testament reveals Him. He can be found on every page and in every story. If we look for Him, we will find Him.

Today we see Jesus shadowed in the strength of God’s outstretched arm. Think with me dear Christian, that same mighty hand that delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt, bore the nails that set you and me free from our bondage to sin. In His loving kindness, Jesus stretched out His arms, died on the cross, and rose again in order to completely conquer the power of sin and death.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;” Colossians 2:14

We were in slavery to the sin of the world like Israel was in slavery to Egypt, a picture of the world. Like Israel needed to be redeemed (or bought back from slavery), so too we needed to be redeemed (bought back) from sin. Praise be to God who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever – God was faithful to deliver Israel with a mighty outstretched arm and He has done the same for us.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

As Christians, we have been set free from sin. It brought us death, but Jesus gives us life.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Romans 6:18

God has forgiven all our sins (Col 2:13); we are justified, the record that detailed our sin has been taken away and we’re declared innocent (Rom 3:24); God has washed us, sanctified us (1 Cor 6:11); He has given us new life (1 Cor 5:17); He has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ (Titus 3:7); He fills us with His Spirit and dwells within us (1 John 4:13); He has given us joy for our sadness and filled our heavy hearts with praise (Isa 61:3); He has given us all we need to live life in Him (2 Pt 1:3).

We are free to live for Him!