Deliverance from Bondage

May 7

“The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will return to the Lord and He will hear their prayers.” Isaiah 19:22 is a message of hope to the downtrodden and weary believer. At first glance, its message may not register and the import of it may be missed, but upon contemplation, it is most refreshing.

Egypt represents a place of bondage. After Joseph had been sold into slavery there, he became second only to Pharaoh through a series of God-ordained events that propelled him to power. Eventually, Joseph’s entire family was welcomed into Egypt, but ultimately, they were bound in slavery.

A Pharaoh who didn’t remember the deliverance that had been wrought through Joseph felt threatened by the growing number of thriving Israelites in his midst, so they were bound until God sent Moses as their deliverer (Genesis 37-Exodus 14). As the Israelites became captive to Egypt, which had once esteemed them, so we can become captive to things that initially appear attractive.

When this happens, God is faithful to His promise to strike down the things that bind us. He is there to set us free from the chains of sin and sickness and deliver us into a place of promise! In order for this to occur, believers must turn to the Lord and He will hear the cries of their hearts. He has already sent Jesus as our Deliverer. We need only appropriate the salvation He has supplied for us.