Several boys once took a hike along the railroad tracks on a foggy morning. When they came to a bridge they checked both ways for an approaching train, but saw none. However, when they got halfway across the bridge, they hear a train approaching in the dense fog. Realizing they could not make it to either end of the bridge, they dropped between the railroad ties and hung on for dear life as the train roared overhead. The vibrations of the passing train made it difficult to hang on to the ties, but they did.

And after the train had passed, the boys were too tired to pull themselves back onto the bridge. Looking down, they could see only fog. There was no way to know the depth of the chasm below them. They hung in place for hours, unable to climb to safety in their weary state and fearful of dropping into the unknown depths. Finally, the sun rose high in the sky, high enough to burn away the fog and reveal that they were hanging over a shallow gorge. The ground was a mere two feet below them. Deliverance was right there waiting for them the whole time, but they were not able to see it.

–Andy McClung

• If you had to give up your political, economic, social, or spiritual freedom, which would you choose to give up?
• Which do you think was more important to the Israelites throughout Exodus–deliverance from slavery or deliverance into a new relationship with God?
• What in your life might you need to let go of to be delivered into a new relationship with God?

How Do I Act?

1. This week, identify and reach out to two individuals who are enslaved by something (poverty, an abusive relationship, anxiety, sexuality).
2. Design a celebration for persons delivered into a new relationship with God (see Exodus 15:1-2). Find or create an opportunity to employ your celebration, perhaps using it as a result of your ministry in action #1 above.
3. Teach youth and children that some lifestyles and behaviors which seem fun can enslave us, but God always offers deliverance.

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash