Strangers in a Strange Land

Moses described his life in Egypt in this way: "I have been a stranger in a strange land.” (Exodus 2:22). When he said this, he and all of the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Even though Moses was born there, he did not consider Egypt his rightful home. Indeed, he was a slave in a foreign land. He knew that he belonged elsewhere.

According to Jesus, the story of Moses' estrangement and enslavement is not merely Moses' story: it is ours too. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says that those who continue in his word will know the truth and, in turn, the truth will make them free.  A few who hear Jesus are puzzled, saying, "We are descendents of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?" (John 8:33)

This response might very well be the same thing we say to Jesus.  We were born into this world and, yes, many of us have a wonderful degree of freedom.  Nevertheless, Jesus views our condition on a far deeper level.  His statement cuts directly to our core: "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34) 

If we are to reflect properly on this statement of Jesus, we must first consider what this sin is of which Jesus speaks.  At its root, our sin is due to the fact that we try (always in vain) to derive abundant joy and eternal life from the things in this world (i.e. a nice place to live, a good reputation, or even our good deeds).  Rather than receiving such joy and life from the hand of God, we have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25)

Because of this sin, we find ourselves enslaved in a land that is not our home. We were all made to dwell in another place, a place promised by God to his people. That place is what we call the Promised Land. It is the Kingdom of God, it is not of this world (cf. John 18:36), and it is our true home.

Now the question must be asked: How do we leave this "Egypt" and enter the Promised Land? Moses, by God's power, led Israel through the Red Sea. This passage through the Red Sea is a sign pointing to the true passage out of sin: baptism into the death of Jesus. In this baptism, God drowns our “Egyptians” and frees our “Israelites.”

Of course, we must not think that baptism is merely a one-time event that has no significance after it has occurred. As Martin Luther wrote in his Large Catechism, “a Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism, begun once and continuing ever after. For we must keep at is without ceasing, always purging whatever pertains to the old Adam, so that whatever belongs to the new creature may come forth.”

It is worth noting here that Jesus refers to himself as “the way.” (John 14:6) Thus, baptism into the death of Jesus is our way out of this “Egypt” and into the true Promised Land. This ongoing baptism, consisting of continual and humble repentance, might look like nothing but death to us. We might rather remain in the safety of Egypt. However, the safety of Egypt is nothing but slavery in a “strange land.” Furthermore, to die the death of repentance is to die with Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead and who promises that we too will be raised. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5)

It is true: in the face of death, the crucified Jesus promises abundant joy and eternal life. This is the sweet, sweet promise to which we cling on our way out of “Egypt” and into the “Red Sea.” Above I noted that Jesus is “the way.” Now we must recall that he is also “the truth and the life.” To die with him is to truly live. Said differently, to die with Jesus in baptism, in continual repentance, is to leave this “strange land” on our way to our true homeland. That true homeland is the Kingdom of God. It is where Jesus reigns as our Lord and, therefore, it is where we are truly free, truly alive, and truly blessed.