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Scripture for the day: Exodus 1:8-14 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; …. Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens…. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage
Thought for the day: Today is the one we call Maundy Thursday, the day of sending. This is the day we commemorate the arrest and trial of the Messiah. He had just finished sharing the Passover meal with His disciples and had predicted for the last time, his impending death. Let’s take a look again at the ritual, with its profound spiritual implications.
What a sad picture! How difficult life must have been for the hapless children of Israel. They had gone gladly to Egypt at the invitation of a seemingly benevolent Pharaoh. They had settled into life there and had no thought of leaving. Why would they? They had everything they could possibly need; material wealth, good health, and no hint that their situation might one day change for the worse.
Suddenly, and seemingly without warning, their situation went from honored guest to abused and afflicted slave. If their experience was anything like ours, the truth is their enslavement was the result of tiny, almost unnoticed steps; one area of freedom after another being taken away or relinquished until they woke one day to the reality of their bondage. I’m sure the majority wondered what had happened; never thinking they might have been trapped in a snare from which there would be no escape.
The children of Israel suddenly found they had a master over them who controlled every aspect of their lives. He was called Pharaoh. The sinner today has a similar master; his name is Satan. This master appoints two taskmasters to enforce his will over us. One is called “World,” the other “Flesh.” These two have many under them. These taskmasters go by various names; addiction, pride, self-ambition, money, pornography and many others. They may be different for each of us, but harsh taskmasters they are.
Just as Israel was offered deliverance, so are we. God raised up Moses for them and, though it took 40 years of preparation in a foreign land, he came to them with the promise of freedom from everything that held them captive. In the same way, the Father has raised up Jesus to be the deliverer for any and every creature who would trust in Him. “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”
The Passover celebration is there to remind us of the deliverance God has provided. Let us never take that freedom for granted. Let us never listen to the voice of the Pharaoh of this world when he says, in response to the offer given by Jesus to come out from among them, “Let them not regard false words” (Exodus 5:9). Satan’s first and favorite argument is that the claims of Jesus are false and anyone who accepts them must be a fool, a lunatic, or, at the very least, a fanatic. “Freedom from the bondage of sin is an illusion,” he says. “You can never break from old habits. You have too much to lose by following Jesus. You will never amount to anything if you listen to those fanatics who believe in Jesus. Besides, you’re doing all right without Him. Who needs that kind of aggravation?”
More on this tomorrow. In the meantime, remember, Satan wants nothing more than to keep us in bondage to whatever taskmaster he has appointed over us. Don’t fall for his lies.
Now go take on your world. - Bill