A Journey to Freedom in Exodus - Part 3
Introduction
So far in this series, we’ve looked at the journey of God’s people out of slavery in Egypt (Part 1) and into the wilderness (Part 2), and what lessons this story can teach us in the journey of recovery. We’ve looked at the promise God has given to His people and the struggles and temptations they faced on their way to the promised land.
The next part of the journey that God’s people faced, and the final Important lesson we can learn from in recovery, is “clearing the land.”
Entering the Promised Land
Once the next generation were to finally be brought into the promised land, God instructed them to clear the land of all its inhabitants before they could settle there. This was because those that lived there worshipped other gods and their beliefs and practices directly opposed the instructions God had given to Israel for how they should live. God warned them that if they settled alongside these other nations, they would be led astray – they would be influenced and drawn to their worship and their behaviour.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. God’s people did in fact settle alongside these other nations, and began to worship these false gods, and oppose God’s instructions to them. They were unable to live peacefully as God’s people and enjoy the fullness of God’s promise.
Even when it seems like freedom has been found, we must be aware of letting things that are not from God influence us and draw us down a dangerous path. In finding freedom, we need to be aware of the importance of “clearing the land” – making sure that those things that are damaging, that will get in the way of living freely, are truly gone. Yes, of course, there will always be temptations, and things always slip in and draw us away from God – we live in a fallen and broken world, and around sinful people. But, as part of the journey to recovery, we need to identify and get rid of things already established in our lives, that threaten the freedom we’ve found.
Looking at the 12 Steps gives us a great example of how to “clear the land” in a personal and internal way, through addressing these things in our own character that can distract us from God or lead us towards negative behaviours, or cause difficulties in our ongoing growth in recovery. This is a vital part of the process, and making use of tools like the 12-steps, ministries like Freedom in Christ, Help in Finding Freedom, or the Big Green Heart, and counselling, can help to clear the things already within us that need to be battled with before freedom can be fully taken hold of.
We also need to address any external things in our lives that have an impact on achieving and maintaining the freedom God has given. This might mean assessing certain relationships or situations that might have been commonplace during life in addiction, that may have a negative impact on your recovery. This is about identifying potential triggers and making the choice to protect yourself and your recovery from things that might threaten the progress made so far.
While in some cases there may be things that require serious changes and immediate or definitive action, this process of “clearing the land” isn’t necessarily a drastic one, but one that of simply assessing the situations or places or people you find yourself – is this something that is helping or hindering my recovery? And making the choices to minimise these negative influences.
The important thing to remember is that God’s people are never left to do this on their own. Clearing the land – the internal and external struggles that impact the journey to recovery – is a difficult and often painful process. It is a battle. But God’s promise is that He is the one who provides the strength needed to win this battle. Just as God equipped the Israelites to be victorious in battle, so He promises to equip us, too.
It is also important to note that there is no way that we are ever going to get to a place where there is no temptation, no struggle, no negative influences. We need to accept the reality that some things will be a constant battle in this way. By relying on God, we can face these challenges and make the conscious choice to accept the truth that it is only through God our freedom is found and sustained, and act in response to that truth.
Finally, once God’s people reached the promised land, the journey is still not yet complete.
Promise Yet to Come
Although this seemed to be the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, we know that God’s story for the rescue and salvation of His people did not end there. While God’s people did have their own land of plenty, free from slavery, there was still so much more that God had in store. There was still struggle, temptations, fear and influence from other nations, still sin and trouble and pain. There still was no perfect peace and ultimate blessing. That is because it was not the covenant with Moses that would bring the perfect fulfillment of God’s promise. God still had another covenant – another promise from God - was be made. One that was not limited to one family line, one earthly location. A promise that would bring true and perfect freedom, peace, provision and blessing.
Of course, this ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise is found in Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that God creates a new covenant with His people. It is through Jesus, the one perfect man, descended from Abraham, that all the nations of the earth are blessed, just as God promised. It is through faith in Christ, we receive our final blessing from God – a perfect place, where we can dwell for eternity as God’s people, worshipping only him, in perfect freedom from all captivity, all fear and all pain. During Jesus’ ministry, he spoke greatly about the Kingdom of God – this perfect promised Kingdom – being seen on earth. What He began while on earth, in healing, casting out the evil, and restoring hearts, God continues now in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. This way, we can see glimpses now on earth, as we read in the New Testament, of God’s Kingdom coming here, but we know there is still more that is to come.
Just as the Bible follows the story of a promise given in Genesis, to its fulfillment in Christ to God’s victory over sin and death and the restoration of all things once and for all, our story also follows from Christ to a time where we will live in eternity enjoying God’s presence, wholly restored, free and at peace. This life, and this world we live in, is still tainted by sin and pain, which means the journey of all of us, to perfect and total freedom and wholeness, will never fully end here. But we know that this life is not the end, merely the beginning of what God has in store for us. We can wait with patience, joy, and expectation for what is to come in eternity with God, through whatever trials, fears, and sorrows we face in our journey. It is in this journey, in spite of the struggles we face, that God promises life in all its fullness and peace beyond our understanding, both in part here on earth and even more to come, when we come before him and are united with Him.
What to Remember
Looking back over the story of Exodus as a whole, there are three points that stand out:
Hold fast to the promises that God has given. Freedom IS possible.
Be prepared for the “wilderness” and the battle that is ahead.
Look to the future and all that God still has to come.
Questions for Reflection
Are there any situations you find yourself in that you know may be detrimental to your recovery journey?
What makes this process of “clearing the land” easier – new/healthy relationships, change of routine, church engagement, growing faith?
Do you find that having the perspective of eternity with God, in perfect peace and freedom, is something easy to focus on?