Focus: Spiritual Sonship

Text: Ex.4:22,23

"Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my SON, even my FIRSTBORN: And I say unto thee, Let my SON go, that he may SERVE me…"

Sonship is an important subject in the Bible. The first Adam is called "the son of God" (Lk.3:38). The last Adam, Jesus Christ, God declares as His own son (Mt.3:17). Paul announces that all of creation is waiting eagerly for the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom.8:19). The writer of Hebrews presents Jesus Christ as the Son of God in Chapter One, and in Chapter Two, he tells us that he has a mission of "bringing many sons unto glory" (Heb.1:5; 2:10). In John 1:12, John tells us how the many sons come about. "But as MANY as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…" The next verse tells us that they are sons by birth - "born… of God." In the epistle that bear his name, John declares, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…" (1Jh.3:1). So when the Lord says "Israel is my son, even my firstborn," you begin to see where He is coming from and going to.

Another point to note is that Paul links liberty to sonship and describes it as the "glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom.8:21). It means that sonship and servitude have nothing in common. Sons should not be slaves. Sons must be free from bondage, and it is for this reason that the Lord sent Moses to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to "let my son go, even my firstborn." God would go to any length and do whatever is necessary to free His children from every form and force of bondage. In fact, in getting His sons to behave as sons, God even applies the rod of discipline, and He does so out of love. We are the sons of His love. He cannot let us be His sons and then let us live like bastards and vagabonds. As sons of God, we should have God as our Surname; we should exhibit Obedient spirit; and we should bear the Nature of God - S.O.N.

Sonship also speaks of maturity. God wants us to be responsible adult sons, not rascals. Heirship is not possible without maturity and responsibility. Paul says, "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all" (Gal.4:1). Spiritual Infantilism is not different from servitude. It is unfortunate and abnormal to have an adult who is still on diapers and feeding bottle.

Finally, God says to Pharaoh, "Let my son go, that he may SERVE me…" The word 'serve' in the Hebrew combines the notions of work and worship. True service is better done by sons. Sons do not serve as hirelings. Sons do not serve to curry favor. Sons do not serve for cheap gains. Sons are heirs. They belong in the family and serve for the good of the household. For sons to truly, freely, and fully serve, they must first be free from bondage. Break away from habits that inhibit work and worship unto God. Be the son that Christ has freed you to be. To be a son and live in bondage is a tragedy. It's time to break free. Worship is better done by free sons. You are that son - freeborn!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter