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Answer
The term “house of bondage” (NKJV) or “house of slavery” (NIV) is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe Israel’s period of enslavement in Egypt under Pharaoh (Exodus 20:2; Jeremiah 34:13; Micah 6:4). When examining passages about God delivering Israel from the house of bondage, several key points about God’s nature and His love for His people stand out: “For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath” «but because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. », (Deuteronomy 7:8).
In Deuteronomy 7, Israel is about to enter the Promised Land. Moses explains that God’s people are to be “a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” «For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. », (Deuteronomy 7:6). God did not choose Israel because they were numerous «The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: », (Deuteronomy 7:7).
God chose the Israelites not because of their greatness or number (Deuteronomy 7:7), but simply because He loved them. His decision was not based on any quality or distinction of the people but entirely on His own will.
The same is true in our relationship with God, which is not dependent on what we do or deserve, but on God’s love and grace alone: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:4-6; see also Ephesians 2:8).
God’s nature is love (1 John 4:7-21). God set His love on Israel, and because He loved them, He delivered them out of Egypt, redeeming them from a life of slavery “with a mighty hand” «and the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: », (Deuteronomy 26:8). When God saves us, He powerfully delivers us from a life of bondage to sin (Romans 6:6, 18; John 8:36).
God wants us to remember that, although we were once slaves to sin, He has set us free: “Beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” «then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. », (Deuteronomy 6:12, NKJV). Israel was not to forget that the Lord had redeemed them, and neither should we. We are now free, but that freedom came at a high price.
e—the sacrifice of Christ’s life on the cross «For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.», (Mark 10:45).
Just as the blood of the first Passover lamb saved Israel from the Destroyer (Exodus 12:12-13), Jesus Christ became our consummate Passover Lamb: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19; see also 1 Corinthians 5:7).
God’s love is tied to His oath. He is faithful to love us to the end, and He desires that we love Him in the same way, keeping His commands «Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;», (Deuteronomy 7:9) and purging evil from among us «And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall put the evil away from the midst of you.», (Deuteronomy 13:5). The apostle Paul explained, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” «Stand fast therefore in the libertyWherewith Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” », (Galatians 5:1). Peter urged Christians, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1-3).
The Lord redeemed Israel from “the house of bondage” just as He frees believers today from the sin and darkness of their past (Ephesians 5:1-27;1 Peter 1:13-23). We are His “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” Propelled by love, God rescues us for His good purpose and sets us apart to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Being redeemed from the house of bondage, we “keep away from worldly desires that wage war against [our] very souls” (1 Peter 2:11-12;NLT).
