From Slavery to Freedom
Easter is not only a celebration of Christ’s resurrection—it's the climax of a journey that began in the land of Egypt, under the weight of slavery. Over 430 years, the Israelites were transformed from free people to broken slaves. But God had not forgotten them. Through Moses, He confronted Pharaoh and judged Egypt through ten devastating plagues. Each plague was not random; it was targeted. As God said in Exodus 12:12:
"“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. " (Exodus 12:12 (NIV))
Each plague exposed the powerlessness of Egypt’s idols—from Hapi, the god of the Nile, to Ra, the god of the sun, to Pharaoh himself.
The final plague, the death of the firstborn, was different. God instructed His people to mark their doorposts with the blood of a spotless lamb. The destroyer would come, but where there was blood, there would be mercy. And here, a profound truth hides behind the Hebrew word pāsaḥ̣, translated as "Passover." As Victor Hamilton notes in the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament:
"pāsaḥ̣... does not mean 'pass by' as such, but rather 'protect, guard.' The Lord will protect the houses of the Israelites and will not allow the destroyer to enter... The Lord rebuffs him by standing guard over the houses of His people."
This is not a passive God turning away, but an active God guarding His people. The blood on the doorposts was not magic—it was a sign of trust. And the Lord Himself became the defender.
Idols Then and Now
But why did God judge Egypt’s gods? Because He wanted to show that these false deities, worshiped for generations with sacrifices of time, money, and even children, could not protect anyone. And what’s true of them is true today.
We may say, “We’re not idol worshipers.” But the truth is, modern people still sacrifice—for career, money, fame, pleasure. The names have changed, but the demands remain. Today’s idols still say, “Give me your life, and I’ll give you happiness.” But they lie. And they leave us empty.
Idols always demand sacrifices, but here is the good news of Easter: Jesus came to become the sacrifice. He did not demand from us what He was unwilling to give. He laid down His life so we could live.
The Image and the Mirror
Why are idols so powerful? Because of how we were made.
The Hebrew word for idol or image is ṣelem (צֶלֶם). This word appears sixteen times in the Old Testament. It refers to physical idols—like the golden tumors made by the Philistines—but five times, it refers to something far more sacred: human beings.
"Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image (ṣelem)” " (Genesis 1:26 (NIV))
Here is the astonishing truth: humans were made in the image of God, designed to reflect Him like mirrors. As theologians have long pointed out, creation is like a temple, and humanity is both king and priest—made to serve, love, and carry out the will of the One we worship.
But if we turn away from God, we don’t stop worshiping—we simply reflect something else. And this is the danger: we become what we worship. Those who worship war become violent (Mars). Those who worship money grow greedy (Mammon). Those who idolize pleasure spiral into moral decay (Aphrodite). The devil knows this and has always worked to redirect our worship. Just like in Eden, he whispers: “You will be like gods.” But it’s a lie. We cannot bear the image of God apart from God. Without Him, we become slaves.
Idolatry in a Secular World?
Some may say, “That was all ancient religion. We live in a secular world now.” But secularism is not freedom from worship—it’s simply worship with new justifications. People still serve something.
Just consider the ideologies that have shaped our modern culture:
- 🔹 Friedrich Nietzsche taught that human behavior is driven by the will to power – we crave dominance, self-affirmation. (Mars)
- 🔹 Karl Marx said our actions are determined by economic conditions – we exist for production and consumption. (Mammon)
- 🔹 Sigmund Freud believed we are ruled by instincts and pleasure, especially sexual urges. (Aphrodite)
These are today’s idols – dressed in philosophical robes, but demanding no less devotion.
The Lamb and the Exodus
So, what does God do? How does He save a people who love their idols?
The answer is in the Lamb.
"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! " (John 1:29 (NIV))
Jesus became the Lamb—pure, innocent, blameless—sacrificed to die for the whole humanity. On the cross, Jesus cried, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In Greek, the word is tetelestai—it is complete, the salvation, the liberation, the restoration of humanity is now possible.
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” " (John 12:32 (NIV))
Just as the Israelites walked out of Egypt the day after the first Passover, so too our Exodus begins with the resurrection. On the third day, Jesus rose from the tomb—and the greatest Exodus of humanity from sin and death began.
Join the Journey
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. " (John 8:36 (NIV))
This journey isn’t just ancient history. God is still calling people out of Egypt—out of slavery to idols, sin, fear, and shame. The cross is the door marked with blood. The empty tomb is the road to freedom.
The Lamb has been slain. The tomb is empty. The way is open.
Will you follow Him on the journey—from Egypt to Resurrection?
Christ is risen! And because He is, freedom is real.