The EXILE — a 5-Day DevotionalSýnishorn

Day One

Title: From Exile to Home

Scripture: Genesis 3:23

Track: Hands of Jesus

In the grand narrative of Scripture, humanity’s journey begins in the lush garden of Eden, a place of abundant provision and perfect communion with God. However, the moment doubt creeps in, and trust wavers, exile becomes imminent. We see this pattern repeated throughout Scripture. When there is a lack of faith in the promises of God, it often leads to difficulty and pain. This pattern is evident from the story of the Tower of Babel, where humanity is scattered, to Abraham seeking refuge in Egypt during a famine when he doesn’t trust the provision of God. Similarly, Isaac runs to Egypt during famine, resulting in the eventual enslavement of the Israelites. Ultimately, this cycle culminates in the Israelites’ captivity in Babylon. The lack of the Israelites' trust in the one true God leads again and again to misfortune.

Yet, even in exile, God is at work. He weaves threads of redemption throughout the fabric of human history, transforming moments of trial into opportunities for His divine intervention. Consider Daniel in the lion’s den; or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace; Esther in the Persian court; or Ruth in the fields of Moab. These stories remind us that God's presence is not confined to the safety of home; rather, it shines brightest in the darkness of displacement and difficulty.

But the ultimate twist in the narrative of Scripture comes with the arrival of the Messiah. Just as the threat of death looms over the infant Jesus, His earthly parents flee to Egypt, echoing the journey of their ancestors. In this unexpected turn of events, salvation emerges from the very place of exile. The metaphor is flipped on its head, revealing God's profound ability to bring redemption from the most unlikely of places and circumstances. Just as Moses raised a golden snake in the wilderness, what was a symbol of demise becomes a symbol of salvation.

As followers of the Messiah, we can draw on the imagery of exile to understand our own relationship with the world. Like strangers and refugees in a foreign land, we feel discomfort and displacement amidst the powers that dominate our earthly state. The grand narrative of Scripture speaks to the most urgent needs all people have, including the need to be connected and grounded, to be protected and to belong, to know who you are and where you fit in. Babylon, Persia, the Assyrian Empire, Egypt, and Rome — they all symbolize the oppressive forces that seek to ensnare us, but they do not have the final say.

Amidst chaos and uncertainty, there is a glimmer of hope — a promise unbroken. For just as God brought the exiles home in ages past, so too does he offer us a way back to Him. Through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ, God extends an invitation to reconciliation and restoration, beckoning us to return to the safety of His embrace.