Freedom!

by melissa bradshaw

The children of Israel first came to Egypt as free citizens, but after many years a new pharaoh came to power and made them slaves. They were treated cruelly until Moses led them to freedom. Their escape to freedom was exciting! Ten miraculous plagues fell. A pillar of cloud appeared during the day, and a pillar of fire by night. God’s presence was in both! Upon arriving at the Red Sea, they could see that they were stuck. There was no way across the Red Sea, and the armies of Egypt were in hot pursuit. Then God worked another miracle and parted the Red Sea, enabling Israel to walk to freedom on the sea’s floor.

Daniel stayed faithful to God even when wicked men craftily created a law intended to permanently get rid of him. But God delivered Daniel in a dramatic way. After he was cast into a den of lions, an angel sent by God shut the lions’ mouths, and Daniel was kept safe and later set free.

Joseph, Paul, and Peter were all put in prison, but God set them free so they could continue doing His work.

Jesus also brought freedom to people. He freed men who were controlled by demons, restoring their peace and clearing their minds. Two men Jesus helped wanted to stay with Him, but instead Jesus sent them out as missionaries to tell others what God had done for them.

Freedom is a special gift we often take for granted. Unless a person has lived in a country where freedom is uncommon or unless one has been taken captive or treated unfairly, it might be hard to understand or appreciate.

Long ago many people who wanted the freedom to worship God without fear left Europe and came to America to begin a new life. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. America, which at the time was still a very new nation, declared its freedom from England. 

One of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, told his wife that he believed people would celebrate that day for generations to come. And he was right! Two hundred fifty years later people still celebrate the Fourth of July. Parades, fireworks, and gatherings with family and friends happen across the United States. July 4 is a day filled with joy, as people remember that we live in freedom. Perhaps you celebrate Canada Day on July 1 in a similar way!

But the greatest freedom of all is freedom from sin, given to us by Jesus. After Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden brought sadness, pain, and death into our world, God promised them that they could still experience freedom. God loves us too much to leave us in a sinful world, separated from Him, so He provided a way to rescue us. Taking our sins upon Himself, Jesus invites us to come to God and be free.

Salvation is a precious gift given by God. While we can be thankful we live in a free country, we can be even more grateful that, through Jesus, we can enjoy freedom forever.

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

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This article is provided by My Place with Jesus, a ministry of It is Written, a Christian media ministry based in Chattanooga, Tennessee that has been proclaiming the message of God’s love since 1956. Check out more fun and games on the My Place with Jesus website!