Free For: What Freedom Is For

In The Prince of Egypt, Moses discovers that the world he has always known is built on a terrible injustice. Raised as a prince, he learns that he is Hebrew—and that his own people have suffered to sustain Egypt’s prosperity. After Moses kills an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew man, Ramses offers to “make it right.” But Ramses can only imagine protecting his brother, not changing the world that made such suffering possible.

That question—what does it really mean to make things right?—follows Israel into freedom. God brings the Hebrew people out of Egypt, but leaving Pharaoh behind does not mean they have forgotten Pharaoh’s ways. Generations of slavery have taught them that those in charge get what they want and that some people’s lives matter less than others.

We recognize that temptation, too. We cherish freedom, yet sometimes define it as getting our own way. We demand the last word, expect others to accommodate us, or protect our preferences without considering their cost. We can become so determined to defend our own freedom that we diminish someone else’s.

God didn’t set Israel free so everybody could become their own little Pharaoh. So what is freedom for?

At Mount Sinai, God begins to answer. Before giving the Ten Commandments, God reminds Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). Grace comes before commandment. Israel does not obey to earn freedom; God has already liberated them. The commandments are given to teach them how to live together differently than the ways of Pharaoh.

Consider the Sabbath. People whose days were once consumed by forced labor are told to rest—and to make room for children, servants, foreigners, and even animals to experience restoration and renewal as well. Rest is no longer a privilege granted by those at the top.

The commandments also call for truthful speech, respect for our neighbors’ lives and relationships, and an allegiance to God above any ruler, nation, or institution. While these “Though shall not” commandments can appear to restrict one’s freedom, they have a purpose beyond restriction. They are a vision of what freedom makes possible: a community grounded in respect, trust, and care rather than fear and control.

Still, knowing what not to do does not always show us how to love. Throughout Scripture, people struggle to live into God’s ways. And God does not give up. God keeps reaching toward humanity, teaching and loving us, and ultimately comes to us in Jesus.

Jesus says he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Rather than simply adding more prohibitions, he shows us the life toward which the law has been pointing: making peace, sharing generously, living contentedly, and loving neighbors. And Jesus invites us to follow him.

That is the church’s calling, too. Not to become another empire imposing rules on everyone else, but to be a community that offers another possibility: where disagreement need not end relationships, where people are welcomed, and where we refuse to give up on one another.

We have not been set free to become our own little Pharaohs. We have been set free to learn to love God and one another.

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Key Scriptures

Exodus 19:3–6
Exodus 20:1–17
Matthew 5:17–20

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Key Takeaways

Freedom is more than getting your own way

We can become so determined to protect our own freedom that we begin to diminish someone else’s. God’s vision of freedom challenges us to consider how our choices affect the people around us.

Grace comes before commandment

God delivered Israel before giving the Ten Commandments. The commandments were not a way to earn freedom, but an invitation to learn how to live faithfully in the freedom God had already given.

The commandments describe a different kind of community

God’s instructions about rest, honesty, relationships, and worship offer an alternative to Pharaoh’s world. They invite us to build communities where respect, trust, and care matter more than control or self-interest.

Jesus shows us the love toward which the law points

Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Through his life and teachings, he shows us that faithfulness means more than avoiding wrongdoing. It means actively practicing reconciliation, generosity, and love.

God never gives up on teaching us to love

Throughout Scripture, humanity struggles to understand and live according to God’s ways. Yet God continues reaching toward us. The church is called to reflect that same patient, persistent love, refusing to give up on one another.

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Questions for Reflection

Where in my life am I most tempted to confuse freedom with getting my own way?

How might my choices, preferences, or expectations unintentionally place burdens on other people?

What do the commandments teach us about the kind of community God desires, especially when it comes to rest, honesty, and respect for others?

What is the difference between simply avoiding wrongdoing and actively following Jesus’ example of love? Consider some specific examples.

How might our church become a place where people experience God’s patience and grace, especially when we disagree or disappoint one another?

What is one practical way I can use my freedom this week to help someone else experience love, dignity, or peace?