“But God led the people about, [through] the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” (Ex 13:18 AV)
The people of Israel were cruelly used as forced labor for Egypt and the building of their cities. They suffered in bondage for four hundred years or so. Ten generations lived and died in the chains of slavery. God sent Moses and Aaron to lead them out of Egypt into the land of promise. After ten plagues, Pharoah finally lifted his grip on God’s people and let them go. Notice above that they went out harnessed. This means they harnessed their oxen to carts and pulled their belongings out of Egypt. They took with them the God given burdens of life. They replaced the burdens man placed on them with the yoke God provided. They did not go from Egypt free from burdens. Left fled Egypt with burdens placed upon them by a loving God. But burdens they carried. Liberty does not mean freedom from all burdens. Liberty carries with it responsibility. Israel had to learn that lesson in the wilderness. For 400 years, they had a government that provided for them as long as they remained slaves. Now they were on their own. They carried with them responsibility for themselves. It only took three days, and they were complaining to God about water. They wanted someone to care for them. They had forgotten they came out harnessed. They came out from under the burden of Egypt. But they came out under the burden of self-responsibility.
Life is full of responsibility. One might use the Bible word and refer to responsibility as a calling. We all have similar callings. We are called to a holy life. We are called to raise a family. We are called to serve in a church. We are called to share the gospel with others. We are called to minister to the lost, leading them to the Savior. There are many callings that are germane to being a human being and a Christian. We also have specific callings. Some are called into a professional career. Others are called to be the guide of the house and the encourager to a husband. Some are called to serve on the mission field. Others are called to be a business owner or one in authority. Some are called to be laborers, faithfully serving their employer as a testimony of their faith. There are those whom serve in the military, as first responders, or in the healthcare industry. We have amazing people called to work with technology. Bless their hearts! There are an infinite number of specific callings. The thing is, there is always a calling. Paul instructs in Titus the responsibilities of the young and old; of the man and woman; of the married and unmarried. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives advice to the single adult, to the married adult, to the Jew, to the Gentile, to the master, and to the servant. He counsels them to abide in their calling (think responsibility) until the LORD changes that calling.
The thing is, we need to understand we are harnessed. God liberated us from sin not to set us free to our own whims or desires. He liberated us from sin and placed a harness to replace the overbearing yoke of sin. Listen to Jesus. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:29-30 AV) Jesus does not say to repent and reject sin, accept Him as Savior, and go have a lifelong party. No. There is a swapping of yokes. Even in eternity, we will be serving Almighty God. There will be a yoke there, too. We were created harnessed. We breathed our first breath with the purpose of responsibility and service. This never ends. Praise the LORD!
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