(I posted this from my blackberry, hence the brevity the first post – now from my laptop, I will expound)
Acts 7:5-7
5 “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet. 6 God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 7 ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’*
This is the recounting of Israel’s history by Stephen before the Council. This is what God says … “… In the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.”
Isn’t that what it is all about? Worshiping Him? Spreading His glory and renown? It has to be because He says that’s what it’s all about.
There is a cycle I see here of God performing a miracle (starting with Abraham) and Israel worshiping God. Most of the miracles were some sort of freedom. Issac freed from the sacrifice, the 12 patriarchs saved from the famine (Joseph), Israelites saved from Egypt (Moses – Exodus, Moses – Red Sea), Israel saved from God’s wrath (10 commandments), Israel saved from wandering (Joshua), and so on and so on.
Each “saving” resulted in a time of worship and glory to His name. Each time, humanity ended back up in bondage. Each time, God had to set us free.
Where does the cycle end? Jesus. “Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed.” Thank you Lord! So if we have been set free, why do so many people choose to go back to bondage?
His Glory, His Worship, His Renown. It’s hard to do any of those when we are bound in or bound to something other than Him.
Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed…