Dictionary of Bible Themes: 6659 freedom, acts of in OT

6659 freedom, acts of in OT

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6600 Aspects of salvation » 6658 freedom » 6659 freedom, acts of in OT

The OT provides many examples of God delivering his people from bondage, of which the greatest is the exodus. These acts of deliverance foreshadow and prepare the way for the redeeming work of God through Jesus Christ, revealed in the NT.

God's people regain their freedom

The exodus from Egypt as an act of deliverance

Exodus 20:2 See also Exodus 12:42; Exodus 16:6,32 The people of Israel were frequently reminded that God had delivered them from Egypt; Joshua 24:6; Judges 6:8; 2 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 8:16; 2 Chronicles 7:22; Psalm 80:8; Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 11:4; Hosea 12:9; Amos 2:10; Micah 6:4; Haggai 2:5; Hebrews 8:9; Jude 5

The return from exile in Babylon as an act of deliverance

Isaiah 35:3-10 See also Isaiah 43:14-45:5,14-17; Isaiah 49:8-26; Isaiah 51:22-52:12; Isaiah 54:1-17; Isaiah 61:1-62:12; Ezekiel 36:24-36; Ezekiel 37:15-28

Freedom granted to individuals to reflect God's past deliverance

Deuteronomy 15:12-15 the sabbath year: all servants to be freed after six years

The Year of Jubilee: all servants and slaves to be freed every fiftieth year:

Leviticus 25:10,39-43

God's purposes in bringing about his people's freedom

God sets his people free to be his own

Exodus 19:4; Numbers 15:41; Hosea 13:4

God sets his people free to serve him

Exodus 19:3-6; Leviticus 25:55

God sets his people free to praise him

Isaiah 43:21

God sets his people free to be holy

Leviticus 11:45; Deuteronomy 28:9-10

God sets his people free to receive his promised gifts

Exodus 3:8 The inheritance is the promised land of Canaan, which foreshadows the gospel inheritance of eternal life in the kingdom of God; Numbers 14:7-8; Deuteronomy 8:7-9; Ezekiel 20:6

Freedom is conditional upon obedience

Israel is commanded to remember the exodus as a matter of obedience

Exodus 13:8-10

Israel's freedom depends upon continuing obedience to the LORD

Deuteronomy 28:25,47-48

Examples of Israel forfeiting freedom through sin

Judges 2:14; Judges 3:7-8,12; Judges 4:1-2; Judges 6:1; 2 Kings 17:6-23; Psalm 137:1-4