Scripture paints a very gloomy picture of our lives prior to God.  Leviticus 26:13 says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves.  And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”

In this verse, God is heralded as our great rescuer.  He comes upon us in our desperate and trapped condition unable to hear or obey the commands of anyone but our current evil master.  And then He intervenes.  With a strong arm, He breaks the yoke of severe bondage and servitude that is draped across our shoulders.

This yoke – placed upon all humanity at the garden of Eden when sin entered this world – is a bitter and heavy master.  Consider a few descriptions that our passage implies about this yoke:

1) It is a yoke of slavery.  This is slavery to Satan, and it manifests itself in our acts of sin.  Before God breaks us free of this yoke, we are forced to do the works of the evil one (see Romans 6:17-18).

2) It is a bitter yoke. This is why the Jewish people eat bitter herbs while partaking of the Passover (Ex 12:8).  It is to remind them of the bitter taste that was left in their mouths from their slavery to the kings of Egypt.  How bitter is the aftertaste of our former life of sin as well.

3) It is a heavy yoke.  This yoke of sin causes us to live a hunched-over life.  It is heavy on our souls.  Our faces, countenances, and lives bear the weight of sin and guilt.  We have no freedom to serve God – just oppression and heaviness as we do the bidding of our evil slave master.

4) It is a yoke controlled by God’s adversary.  At the helm – the slave driver – is none other than Satan himself.  He wants us to plow his fields, do his work, and plant his kingdom.  We are yoked under his command with no hope of escape.

5) But, it is a yoke that is smashed apart by God’s mercy!  How wonderful of a phrase that God uses in Leviticus 26 – “I have broken the bars of your yoke.”  The heavy and taxing service to Satan is ended.  The yoke is broken from our shoulders and left to lie upon the ground where it belongs.  We are free!!  Free at last to stand upright.  Free to turn and gaze upon our Deliverer.  Free to praise and thank Him.  Free to learn of Him.  Free to worship.  Free to follow this Good and Great Deliverer!

Christian, take joy and delight in the God who approached your sad and helpless condition, stretched out His arm, and broke to pieces your life of slavery and doom.  May the thought of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross (Col 2:13-15) bring you much strength and encouragement for your soul.  May you walk with upright shoulders and a light and happy heart today!

Alive2Christ,

Kendall C.