Free Indeed

After forty long years of wandering through the wilderness, the Israelites entered the Promised Land as the Lord has promised. “...the Lord said to Joshua... “Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses” (Joshua 1:1-3).

This, my friends, is the ultimate sign of freedom. Where every place you step foot is yours! Southwest Airlines understood this well with their famous slogan, “You are now free to move about the country.” The Israelites were free! Free from Pharaoh and the Egyptian captivity. Free from the wilderness. And now free to move about in wide open space, worship and live the lives they always desired in the depths of their hearts.

As part of their newfound independence, the Lord was steadily teaching and guiding them. Yes, freedom is yours but now what? What will you do with your freedom? How do you remain in your freedom? What does it mean to be free?

“Be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success” (Joshua 1:7-8).

 In essence, the Lord is telling us, “You are free, but here are some tips to persevere and thrive, to be prosperous and have success.” St. Paul says something similar but using different words, “Stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

You have worked so hard to reach this point in your spiritual life. Not only that, the Lord has been relentlessly determined to help you get here. He literally gave up his life and died for it. He rescued us at the Cross and continues to rescue us now. Free indeed, Paul beckons us not to go back into bondage!

To illustrate Paul’s plea to the Galatians, I’m reminded of the scene where the Lord rescues the woman caught in the act of adultery (see John 8:4). First of all, imagine the shame of being caught “in the act.” Shame quickly turned to impending death as they stood ready to stone her. Then Jesus broke into the scene, “...he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). I love this! Let’s not miss the beautiful subtleties of scripture. Jesus stands up to the accuser on our behalf. The evangelist (John) continues this theme in the book of Revelation, “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10).

Returning to the story of the woman in shame, “And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground” (John 8:8). Many have pondered what Jesus wrote in the sand, speculating he wrote but one simple word, “Mercy”.

This entire road we have been traveling has been a continuous initiative of God’s infinite mercy. It was true for the Israelites. It was true for the woman caught in the act. And it’s true for you and me. Our God fights for us and he forgives. So back to our questions: what will you do with your freedom? How do you remain in your freedom? What does it mean to be free?

We close with the final words of Our Lord to the accused woman, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again” (John 8:10-11).