Isn’t freedom wonderful? We cherish our rights and our liberty. But what is freedom? We often think freedom is about fulfilling our desires, preferably without consequence. We view freedom as the lack of restraint and rules. Freedom is serving ourselves instead of anyone else. But that’s not how freedom works. In one way or another, we will always serve something.
In Judges 2:13, we read that Israel “…abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.” To ancient Israel, the religion of Baal likely seemed liberating. It certainly didn’t make the moral demands that YHWH did. And so, they abandoned God. But did that bring freedom? No, it just brought about a dark servitude. Enslaved to false gods, Israel walked a painful path that led to affliction and oppression.
And that’s what sin does. It appears liberating to follow our carnal desires, but it results in bondage and death. Instead, serve the Lord, and you can find freedom and life.