Straight Out of Egypt

“Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.” Exodus 18:8 (ESV) God’s people suffered 400 years of slavery. That’s a long time, my friends, but during that time the people cried out to God, and He heard them. Out of His mercy, God raised up a leader to deliver them from bondage. Today, people are still enslaved and imprisoned in so many ways. Did you know that we can be enslaved by our own choices? Some people seem to choose to accept defeat, and refuse God’s help. When we let the enemy lead us to sin, or allow our past experiences to define us, then we walk back into our own “Egypt,” slaves to the enemy. And most of our “prisons” are made up of our own thoughts about ourselves, our lives, and our whole identity. Our past can also shape the building of our “prisons.” We may feel we need the approval of others or to meet certain expectations. We can be held captive by our emotions and feelings. How much time have we spent in anger? . . . or plotting or seeking revenge, because of what someone did to us? But there is good news, my friends! Our God is the great deliverer. He alone is the great chain breaker. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved along with everyone in your household” (Acts 16:38). In your time of hardship, cry out, as the people of God did in the Bible. The Lord will hear you. As He raised up the prophet Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, so He has sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to lead us out of the condemnation of sin by dying on the cross. With Christ, we walk as free people, straight “out of Egypt”! — Mark Little Elk   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org