Burdens that Blind

Burdens that Blind

There is a cartoon gag where a smaller character with eyes clenched and sweating, strains under a load ten times its size. Then, the scene zooms out to show a larger character effortlessly sharing the same load despite the great effort of the smaller character.

In Exodus 6:2-8, God reminds Moses of his tremendous and wonderful covenant promise to save his people and give them the promised land. Moses relays these promises to the people, but they do not listen. Why? Because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery (Exodus 6:9). Their burdens blinded them from seeing God's faithfulness as their great and only hope. This response contrasts drastically with the faith response of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Each faced their moments of trial, whether to believe the Lord or not, but the people of Israel can't even listen here. How gracious God is to bring them out from under their slavery, protect and provide for them in the wilderness, shape them into his people, and then bring them into the promised land as a formidable army.

Burdens blind today. Despite Christ's victory over sin and death and our salvation from both through faith in Him, sin can still burden and blind. A brother or sister can be caught in sin and need loving, gentile restoration from fellow believers. Although he or she may have the ultimate victory in Christ, they may be broken in spirit and needlessly living under the harsh slavery of sin. In those moments, one's church family is vital. Other faithful brothers and sisters can gently show us what we are missing in the promises of God. In this way, the Spirit ministers to us through the care of our fellow Christians.

This is the definitive expression of love for one another. Although it is good to help one another with tangible needs (food, clothing, shelter). Only Christians are uniquely equipped to minister the gospel to sinful hearts. That is where the real needs are found because sin is everyone's greatest problem. We are all the small cartoon characters needlessly struggling under the burden of sin, even though Christ has lifted that burden upon himself. The Israelites needed only to believe that God would soon have them far from Egypt. We have Jesus, our great assurance that no burden in this life is so great that his resurrected life cannot assure us of our freedom.

Do you feel as though you are living under a tremendous burden?

Does a "broken spirit" or "harsh slavery" describe a dear brother or sister near you?

To whom might you minister the promises of God today?

If you're struggling, message a fellow church member and share your load.

No one needs to struggle alone.

Lifting burdens,
Loren