History of Redemption: Blog Post 9

Then the Lord brought Israel up from the land of Egypt and redeemed them from the house of slavery. - Micah 6:4 (ESV/author’s translation)  

re·deem verb ri-ˈdēm

transitive verb

a : to buy back : repurchase

b : to get or win back

We live on a spiritual battlefield.  Satan attacks us day and night, seeking to enslave us in a prison of sin and deceit.  He whispers lies into our ears, telling us it is not a prison, it is a resort.  He tells us that we will be happy if we will just turn our backs on God and follow him instead.  

But there is good news for us.  The Lord has redeemed us from the house of slavery.  In a great foreshadowing of His atoning work upon the cross, the Lord redeemed His chosen people Israel from the house of slavery in Egypt, freeing them from their bondage and decay.  We have run away from our God, following Satan’s path of death and destruction, and yet our Lord has sought after us, and has claimed us for His kingdom, and has redeemed us for our good and for His glory.  “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).  Jesus Christ has brought us who believe up from the land of Egypt and redeemed us from the house of slavery.  We did nothing to merit this gracious gift, yet our God loves us, as the Father loves His prodigal son, not waiting for us to come to Him, but running to meet us where we are.   

Our blessed Lord and Savior has redeemed us through His atonement on the cross, and Christ’s sacrifice was once for all.  “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).  But God’s work of redemption continues.  He continues to work in our lives to redeem us from the lingering effects of sin in this world.  Truly, we who have been saved confess with Job that “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25).  Our redeemer lives, and His “Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27).  And He will one day stand upon the earth so that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).  I am so grateful that we are not left to redeem ourselves.  It has become clear to me that we cannot.  Salvation, which is redemption from sin, is entirely by His power and His grace, out His love for us.

Thank you Lord Jesus, that our Redeemer lives.  

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.  (Isaiah 59:20)