“Behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me…” -Exodus 3:9
“And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts…Then Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place.'” -Exodus 12:51-13:3
“I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. – Be pleased, O LORD, to save me…yet, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.” -Psalm 40:1-2, 17
“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us…” -2 Corinthians 1:9,10
The Christmas story is a story of deliverance. We were not only separated from our Father, we were held captive in spiritual darkness. The Scriptures tell us that we needed to be set free from the bondage of our sinful nature. This would require a supernatural rescue. We needed a deliverer…a Savior. Christmas reveals that God not only comes to reconcile us , but to “deliver us from evil”. He shows up and sets us free! Free to follow Him. Free to fellowship with Him. Free to love Him.
This characteristic of God is evident from the beginning. We see it most vividly illustrated in the exodus story. The people of God are enslaved in Egypt. There is no way out. There is no hope. There is only darkness. Then God showed up and set them free!
“Let there be light”
God makes a way where there is no way and the people of Israel are rescued…set free. In this same story we see this illustrated again at the edge of the Red Sea. The Egyptians were closing in and nothing but water in front of them. No way over. No way under. No boat…no bridge…no hope. Then God…
You know the rest of the story.
Throughout the Psalms David describes God as Deliverer. He knew that it was part of God’s character. He experienced it many times when pursued by Saul and when he confronted a giant named Goliath. God shows up and delivers us. This is the Christmas story. God came to deliver us.