"I am come down to deliver them" (Exodus 3:8). These were the words God
spoke to Moses regarding His people, which were in Egypt. The children of the
patriarch Jacob, whose father was Isaac and grandfather Abraham, were called the
children of Israel, a seed chosen by God. They were allowed by God to go down to
Egypt and there wait for over four centuries before they inherited the promised land
of Canaan. God described this land as a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus
3:8). In Egypt the patriarchal family multiplied into a nation, but went through bitter
affliction as slaves of Pharaoh. The book of Exodus opens with a grim picture of the
people of God as well as their desperate need for deliverance and freedom. They
were enslaved, made to serve with rigor and their lives were made bitter with hard
bondage (Exodus 1 : 12 -14 ). Is this not a classic description of the human race?

We are slaves to many sinful vices and serve the devil by carrying out his dictates. If
we are honest, we should accept that we are, and we live, in a world of liars,
cheaters, misrepresent, false witnesses and double: -talkers. The sum total is, we
are in bondage to deadly sins, in our public and private lives and in spite of our
sincere efforts do not know the way of deliverance. Yes, it takes more than human
efforts to deliver ourselves from the slavery of sin. But there is good news, as our
text tells us; God saw the captives toiling at Egypt's brick kilns; heard their
groaning; knew their sorrows and their misery and said,"1 am come down to deliver
them".

If any help is given to the people of Israel, it must "come down" for no man"
can by any means redeem his brother" (Psalm 49:7). Here we have the 'Good News';
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16) and,
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"(1 Timothy 1: 15), "God was
manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16) and in the Person of Jesus Christ. How
majestic is this statement! Jesus is the eternally existent God. He did not begin at
birth, any more than His life ended on the cross; but at His birth, He showed Himself
to mankind. He appeared among us, sinful beings. His feet which trod the dusty
roads of Galilee and walked on the sea of Gennesaret, were the same that walked in
the fire with those three brave men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to rescue
them from fire (Daniel 3:25), and are come down now to deliver us from eternal hell
fire. He came to this world of war, poverty, sickness, lust, crime, evil and hatred. It
was an Errand of Rescue that God the Father wanted Him to accomplish. '-hat is why
Jesus often told that He was "sent" by the Father (John 4:34, 5:37, 6:44, 7:33,
17:18 etc.). Jesus never withdrew from the world of men, neither did He shut
Himself up in a monastery nor was a recluse or a mendicant. He mixed with men.

"Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him"(Luke 15:1 ).
He trod this earth in human nature and in human form, moving among men and
sharing their toil and pain. l lived a simple life and mingled with everyone, tl1e
"friend of publicans and sinners" (Luke 7:34). He loved the sinful sons of men and
died for them on the cruel cross to redeem and save them from eternal hell fire. He
came to us. He made Himself available to wretched sinners. That is the message of
Christmas. "...thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins" (Matt. 1: 21 ).

This news of 'God coming down to deliver' is not for the Jews only, but for all
people throughout the world. The 'good news' is about a Wonderful Person -not a
religion; not a movement and not an experience. It is Jesus Who in Himself is the
'Gospel' or the 'good news'. "He came" (John 1: 11). Thank God, He did! Where
would a world of lost sinners like us turn for help and deliverance? How could
mankind ever grope its way out of darkness to Him, Who is Holy, Exalted and in
Glory? Remember, my friend, none of us are so far gone into sins, so deep down in
iniquity, that we cannot be delivered by Jesus. "If we confess our sins, he (Lord
Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness" (1 John 1 :9). This tidings has been proclaimed far and wide. A
great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people, and torlgues" (Revelation 7:9), has come to believe on Him. Have you my
friend? Jesus came to deliver you from the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) and your
cruel oppressor, the devil, and sustain you in this life, and give you victory as you
walkthrough this dangerous and deceitful world.

Can you, my friend, say that you have been delivered from Satan's galling
yoke? Or are you still his slave? Slave to lust and passion, worldliness, the love of
money, praise of men, drinking, gambling, swearing, lying and ill-temper? Beware,
unless you experience the deliverance God has provided for you in the Person of
Jesus Christ, Who said, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John
8:36, NIV); Satan will delude and destroy your soul now and for eternity. If you have
not been set free by the Son of God, it is certain that you are still held in Satan's
power, and he is leading you on day by day to the "lake of fire". This tidings has
been proclaimed far and wide, "liberty to the captive" and we are all commanded to
believe it. A subject of an oriental prince had been sentenced to death. Shortly
before the execution, which was attended by the prince, the condemned man was
asked what his last wish was. The only thing he desired was a cup of water, which
was given him; but he was so nervous that his trembling hands could hardly hold the
cup. The prince said to him: "Relax, your life is secure until you have drunk the cup
to the dregs." Immediately he took the prince at his word and poured the water on
the ground so that nobody was able to get it back into the cup. His life was saved.

Can you, my reader, say that you have taken God at His word and believed this
'Good News' which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth"
(Romans 1: 16)? Life is short; it quickly passes by. Please take time to get saved.