AN EXODUS

Exodus, the story of the Israelites coming out of Egypt is a paradigm of

the Christian's walk. Let's take a broad overview of what happened to

those Israelites, with the view of seeing ourselves on the same journey.

The story of the Exodus begins about 400 years after the sons of Israel

came to live in Egypt. A new Pharaoh had come to power. Because he feared

the Israelites, he slowly took their "rights" away and placed them in

slavery.

"They made their lives bitter with hard labour in brick and mortar and with

all kinds of work in the fields, in all their hard labour the Egyptians

used them ruthlessly."

(Exodus 1:14 NIV)

A similar process has also occurred placing many people today under the

slavery of homosexuality. It was a slow process that eroded freedom away.

In this environment, Moses and all others born during the next 80 years

were born in slavery, or more specifically as slaves. In a similar manner,

we are born in sin or more specifically as sinners. After our birth, we

live as slaves to sin. At this point, it does not make much difference if

a person was made a slave or if he was born a slave. The fact is: he is a

slave! The same is true for those who claim to be born homosexual, or who

acquired that condition later in life. The time of onset of becoming a

slave, a sinner, or a homosexual is not the crucial matter. The

homosexual, as all other people, is a slave to sin. (Romans 5:23). The

story of deliverance occurred for all people - those who were made slaves

and those who were born slaves.

"The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out and their cry for

help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and

He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."

(Exodus 2:23,24 NIV).

The Lord responded to these cries saying to Moses:

"I have seen the misery of my people ... I have come down to rescue them up

out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk

and honey - the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Jebusites ... so now go.

I am send YOU to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

(Exodus 3:7-10 NIV, emphasis added).

The Lord is aware of the situation. He has heard the cries of the

Israelites. He has given His answer: "I will rescue" to one man: Moses.

At this time, no one realised that God was answering their prayers for

freedom. Then God sent Moses to the enemy, to Pharaoh, Satan's

representative. Parents, wives, children, and friends of homosexual

people, God's word to you is "I am sending YOU!" Where? To PHARAOH.

Pharaoh, Satan's representative, is the ruler of Egypt, the land of

slavery. The Lord is sending you directly to the enemy. You are to say

directly to Satan "Let my loved one < person's name > go."

The Lord knows that this is a tough assignment. It fact the Lord says, "

I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand

compels him."

(Exodus 3:19 NIV)

Take note, The Lord does not tell Moses that he must pray, or offer

sacrifices, or pay a tithe, but rather the Lord sends him out to battle

against the enemy. No one, save Aaron, believed that the Israelites would

gain their freedom. In dealing with homosexuality, few believe that it is

possible for the homosexual person to gain his freedom either. God's word

remains, He has promised deliverance. (Exodus 5:22-6:12).

When Moses and Aaron first approached Pharaoh, the situation for the

Israelites grew worse. They had to produce the same number of bricks, and

gather their own straw at the same time.

Then the Lord began to move His hand. The water turned to blood, the land

was covered with frogs, then gnats. Pharaoh would not let the people go.

Everyone in Egypt, the Israelites and the Egyptians, suffered those first

three plagues. Then came the flies, and a plague on the livestock,

followed by boils. Pharaoh hardened his heart, and the Israelites could

not go. Pharaoh was not going to give up easily. Neither will Satan

easily turn your homosexual child or spouse back to you. The Lord again

sends Moses before Pharaoh saying

"let my people go!"

(Exodus 9:13 NIV).

More plagues: hail, locust, and darkness. Still Pharaoh said NO!

Finally, the last plague, all the first-born sons from Pharaoh, to the

slave girl, to the cattle in the fields died. Then Pharaoh, and all of

Egypt sent the Israelites out of their land giving them silver, gold, and

whatever else they requested.

Isaiah, the prophet, many centuries later, recorded God's word:

"Can plunder be taken from warriors or captives rescued from the fierce?

But this is what the Lord says: 'Yes, captives will be taken from

warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those

who contend with you, and your children I will save. I will make your

oppressors eat their own flesh, they will be drunk on their own blood, as

with wine. Then all mankind will know that I the Lord, am your Saviour,

your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.'"

(Isaiah 49:24-26 NIV).

This prophecy looks ahead, but also behind. The captives, the homosexual

person has been taken from the warriors, plunder has been retrieved from

the fierce. God's word remains;

"Those who hope in Me will NOT be disappointed."

(Isaiah 49:23b NIV, emphasis added).

The Israelites, freed ex-slaves, begin a journey out of Egypt, the land of

bondage. This journey is only a beginning, not an end. Pharaoh's anger is

rekindled. He pursues the Israelites - the ones set free. The Israelites

find themselves trapped with the Red Sea before them, and the Egyptians

behind. Are they really free? Many homosexuals ask the same question:

"Am I really free?" God did not bring His people out and forget about

them; He opened the Red Sea so the Israelites could march through.

Pharaoh and his hosts were defeated. So too, the Christian is freed from

the grips of Satan. He has been defeated at the cross of Calvary. The

message of freedom applies to the homosexual person as well. At this

point, he is freed from the power or bondage of homosexuality. The desert

lies ahead of him. It must be crossed.

The desert region is not God's promised inheritance, a land flowing with

milk and honey is. The Israelites must cross the desert to reach the

promised land. When they arrive, they find a river to be crossed, and a

land filled with Canaanites, Hittites, and Jebusites. The Israelites are

commanded to cross the Jordan River, and to take possession of the land by

driving the enemy out.

Turning around and going in the other direction is the story of Exodus:

Leaving bondage, crossing the Red Sea, going through the desert, crossing a

raging river, and possessing the Promised Land.

All are called to this journey, which leads to freedom, from slavery, sin,

and homosexuality. Exodus is God's promise that this freedom really is

possible!

--Douglas A. Houck

For further information about homosexuality or about other areas of sexual

brokenness, please contact:

LOVE IN ACTION

G.P.O. Box 1115

ADELAIDE SA 5001

Phone (08) 371 0446

This article is reprinted by permission from

Metanoia Ministries

P O Box 33039

Seattle WA 98133-0039

U.S.A.



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