Moses

February 17

Exodus 2:16-25

Who is your master?

Moses had fled from Pharaoh and was sitting at a well when the seven daughters of Jethro came along to draw water for their flock. Other shepherds also arrived and drove the girls away, but Moses came to their rescue.

When the girls’ father heard about Moses, he invited him to stay and help look after the flock.

Many years passed. During that time, the king of Egypt died. However, for the Israelites who were still slaves in Egypt, life didn’t get any better. Yet, God heard their cries for help and remembered the promise He had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Can a slave ever be set free?

Moses, like his fellow Israelites, was a descendant of Jacob. Moses became a servant: his people worked as slaves. Moses could have been a slave too, or he could have been put to death as a baby, but God rescued him.

Unlike a servant, a slave does not have a choice about who his master is, and he can never set himself free. His master owns him and forces him to work, giving him little or nothing in return. A slave has no rights and is usually treated very harshly.

We are descendants of Adam, and because he sinned, we are born as slaves of the devil. He is a cruel master who only pays with pain, sadness and suffering because he has nothing else to offer.

The good news is that Jesus can set us free from being slaves of the devil. When Jesus died for us He paid the price to buy us back. If you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Master, you have been set free from the devil’s control. You now belong to Jesus and, as a child in God’s family, you are free to serve Him joyfully.

Verse for today

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” John 8:34-36.