Day 5 of 90 - Exodus 3:1-Exodus 15:27

Today we read Exodus 3:1-Exodus 15:27. All throughout our reading, we heard a consistent refrain. God tells Moses to go to Pharaoh and command him to “let my people go.” These words have become a popular saying in sacred and secular spaces. Movies that recapitulate the Moses story, remind us of these words. Negro spirituals remind of us these words. But most of us stop at the WHAT without interrogating the WHY. The what is: LET MY PEOPLE GO. The why is: SO THAT THEY CAN WORSHIP ME.

 

The lesson I believe God is trying to tell us is twofold. Firstly, we are freed for purpose. God doesn’t just free us for our enjoyment. God frees us for his glory. Our freedom from bondage gives us access into a new life of abundance.

 

Secondly, that purpose is specific. We are freed from bondage so we can worship God. This implies to me, that it is impossible to worship God in chains. It is impossible to experience the joy of worship if we are in the prison of Egypt. So it makes sense for Exodus to be the book that expounds upon and elaborates on worship because Exodus, simply defined, means TO EXIT.

 

The children of Israel had to exit from the enslavement of their past, to experience the intimacy of worshipping a God who is faithful to sustain in the wilderness. The location of their worship must not be overlooked either. Because pre-wilderness they had to work for themselves. they were slaves to their masters and victims of their predicament. But when God frees us, He provides manna in the wilderness, a cloud by day to keep us cool, and fire by night to keep us warm. When we are in God’s will, it becomes God’s bill. He becomes RESPONSIBLE for us. (Responsible is my new favorite word). And the reason that speaks to me is because I don’t have to worry when I worship. When I enter into his presence, my fear of failure drowns in his presence. My fear of dying too soon, drowns in his presence. My separation anxiety drowns in his presence. My worry about finances, it all drowns in his presence.

 

Question: What is God calling you to EXIT so that you can ENCOUNTER Him?

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