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, Exodus 16:32 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 1:5

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

The return from exile in Babylon as an act of deliverance

Isaiah 35:3–10 See also Isaiah 43:14–45:5, Isaiah 45:14–17, 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

Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees! Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.” Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus. And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it — only those who walk in the Way — and fools will not stray onto it. No lion will be there, and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk upon it. So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

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; Leviticus 25:10, Leviticus 25:39–43

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, Deuteronomy 28:47–48

Examples of Israel forfeiting freedom through sin

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