Set Free to Remain Free

 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”  Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.  He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:41-43

 ¹ 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.

Galatians 5:1

Chains are not intended to hold the children of God in bondage. There is a biblical law called the Law of First Mention and it is most often used to best understand biblical doctrines by studying where that doctrine is first mentioned in scripture. This may not be exactly what theologians had in mind for the Law of First Mention but is nonetheless very interesting that the first use of the word “chain” in scripture is that of Pharaoh commanding a gold chain be placed upon Joseph’s neck. The first mention we have in scripture for a chain concerning God’s people is not a picture of bondage. Different commentators note that the gold chain represented a ‘mark of distinction’, a sign of civil authority’, a badge of honor and dignity and so on….

God’s plans for you are good. The only chains he desires to see around you are those of honor and not those of bondage. It was never his plan for his children to be in bondage to sin. He sent us his son to set us free from that bondage we chose for ourselves. Paul declares in our verse from Galatians 5:1 that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Maybe stating it another way is this: We have been set free to remain free.     

Truly I am your servant, LORD;
   I serve you just as my mother did;
   you have freed me from my chains.

Psalm 116:16