Our Need For A Savior

Stunning Mountain Lakes

I have told you this before. I love to hike. Unfortunately, some of the most beautiful hikes are those that are harder. I mean, you just cannot top the stunning mountain lakes. One of my favorites is Lava Lake. When you complete the 1600 foot elevation gain over three miles, you get to an opening in the trees. When you walk through, you will see the most stunning picture of blue water surrounded by massive boulders.

With every step upward on that trail, I have to remind myself of how wonderful the reward will be. My legs are just not what they were pre-lyme and I will admit I have wanted to give up so many times on that hike. I have found hiking is such a parallel to our lives of faith. You try really hard, and then you stumble. And sometimes you stumble a little harder than other times. Often, you want to quit and turn around. I know I’m not the only one.

Our Desperate Need For A Savior

The book of Genesis is a book about humanity. It begins in a garden and ends in a casket. The entire book shows a progression of how desperately we need a Savior. We find Adam and Eve getting deceived by the serpent and making a decision that affected all of humanity. (Study Genesis here.)

The decision to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil had many negative consequences. Sin entered the world and led to things such as Cain killing Abel, Ham shaming Noah, Sarah giving Hagar to Abraham, and Jacob deceiving almost everyone. The list can go on and on. If you want to read some drama, Genesis is the book for you.

Genesis reveals to us humanity on its own can never live at God’s standards. We read Abraham gives an amazing effort, but he still falls short. No matter how hard anyone tries, our humanness gets in the way. Genesis shows us how desperately we need rescuing. We need for someone to come in and save us from ourselves.

Exodus

Genesis then points us to Exodus. This is where we find the Israelites captured in slavery. A place we all hypothetically find ourselves. Sin can entangle us. No matter how hard we press forward and try to do good, we still fall short on our own. Paul says it best in Romans 7:14-20 when he tries to explain that he does the things he does not want to do.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Romans 7:14-20 NIV

Redemption Begins

Here enters redemption. Throughout the pages of Exodus, we find hope. We find a God who rescues His people from slavery. In the same way, He rescues us from the slavery of sin we find ourselves in. As the story progresses, we find God who keeps reaching His hands out to usher His people along and a people who keep falling short.

We then find the tabernacle. A place for God to dwell among His people. A picture of Jesus coming to be with His people. God directs them across the wilderness in the same way He guides us. Then we find the beginning of the law. Where God gives humanity a way to redeem ourselves from sin. Once again, we will find humanity cannot remain pure, pointing us to the One who can.

Exodus not only shows us Gods desire for us to be free, but He begins unveiling His ultimate plan of salvation. I hope you will join me as we begin uncovering the story of Exodus. A story that will take us from bondage to worship. A story that will ignite your heart and make you fall more and more in love with your Savior.