What's Freedom For?

Summary

The Wake-Up Call

Episode: What's Freedom For?
Host: Andrew Forrest
Date: February 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, host Andrew Forrest explores the idea of freedom through the lens of Exodus 19:1-6, inviting listeners to consider not just what we are freed from, but what we are freed for. The episode delves into the transformation of Israel from slaves in Egypt to a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” and challenges Christians today to embrace their purpose as God’s representatives in the world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context of Exodus: Out of Egypt, and Egypt Out of Us

• Andrew frames the study as a journey through the latter half of Exodus, where the focus shifts from God physically freeing Israel from Egypt to God spiritually freeing Israel from Egypt’s influence (00:40).
  • “If the first half is where God takes the people out of Egypt, the second half… is where God gets Egypt out of the people, which I think is just as much a relevant message today as it was way back then.”

2. The Purpose of the Exodus: What’s Freedom For?

• The heart of the episode: Why did God go to all the trouble of delivering Israel?
• Andrew highlights Exodus 19:1-6 as the “most important paragraph in Exodus” (02:16).
  • He explains that arriving at Sinai fulfills God's promise at the burning bush (Exodus 3:12).
• The journey—through hardship—was not meaningless. “The Lord didn’t bring them into the desert to kill them like they complained, but rather he brought them on eagle’s wings through the desert to this mountain for a purpose.” (03:05)

3. The Lord’s Covenant and Israel’s New Identity

• The episode draws a distinction between contracts (short-term) and covenants (lifelong, binding promises) (03:22).
• Israel is called to listen and obey so they can be God’s “treasured possession among all peoples” (03:35).
  • “The whole earth belongs to the Lord… but Israel is especially chosen to represent the Lord to the nations.”
• Israel’s role: “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Priests are mediators—representing people to God and God to people (04:02).

4. Continuity into the New Testament

• Andrew references 1 Peter 2:9-12, emphasizing that the church carries forward Israel’s calling:
  • “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession… that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (05:00)
• Application: The church exists to represent God to the world, living in such a way that others are “drawn to the Lord” (05:44).

5. Living Out the Mission Today

• The Ten Commandments and laws are about enabling Israel (and the church) to reflect God’s character to the nations.
  • “What a beautiful calling, Church. We get to represent the Lord to the world. We get to share the good news of God’s love.” (06:00)
• Notable detail: Israel resets their entire calendar from the day of liberation (06:23).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On spiritual transformation:
  “The first half is where God takes the people out of Egypt, the second half… is where God gets Egypt out of the people, which… is just as much a relevant message today.” (00:52)

• On the purpose of Israel’s freedom:
  “The purpose of God’s people is to represent the Lord to the nations, so that the nations can come to know him and trust him and receive life in his name.” (05:30)

• On Christian identity:
  “Previously they served Pharaoh, but now they are to serve the Lord… here the people receive their identity as God’s special people.” (04:21)

• Encouragement to listeners:
  “We get to represent the Lord to the world. We get to share the good news of God’s love.” (06:00)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40: Introduction to the Exodus series focus: Egypt out of us
• 02:16: Exodus 19:1-6—“the most important paragraph in Exodus”
• 03:05: Significance of the journey and the purpose of Israel's deliverance
• 03:22: The covenant’s terms and Israel’s calling as God’s “treasured possession”
• 04:02: Israel’s vocation as a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”
• 05:00: Link to New Testament: 1 Peter 2:9-12 and the church’s calling
• 06:00: The church’s role representing God to the world
• 06:23: The calendar reset with the Exodus—new time begins with liberation

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Hymn Reflection (“Here I Am, Lord”)

• The episode concludes with a communal singing of “Here I Am, Lord” (07:11–09:29).

  • The hymn underscores the themes of being sent, responding to God’s call, and holding others in one’s heart, matching the episode’s call to mission.

  “I will go, Lord, if you lead me / I will hold your people in my heart.” (08:12)

• Andrew notes (09:30):
  “What a beautiful prayer. It says at the top of the hymnal, it’s in the section for commitment and consecration. I love that. What a great hymn.”

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Journal Prompts (06:35)

• Priests intercede for the people:
  How can you intercede for someone today in prayer?
• Holiness means being set apart:
  Are there places in your life where you need God’s spirit to make you more holy?
• Carrying forth the mission:
  How can you carry forth the Church’s mission in your daily life? Isn’t that the point of all we’re doing?

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Tone & Language

Andrew Forrest’s tone is warm, encouraging, and invitational. He uses practical applications and scriptural reflections to draw contemporary meaning from ancient texts, consistently inviting listeners into active participation—through prayer, reflection, and action.

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Conclusion

This episode reminds listeners that deliverance isn’t just from bondage, but for a holy, missional calling. Whether ancient Israel or the modern church, God’s people are set apart to reveal His love to the world.

“Lord, you have chosen us to be a light to the nations. Set us apart… and shine through us so that others will see and be drawn to you.” (06:28)

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Sower Nation it is Tuesday, February 3rd, in the year of our Lord 2026. I am Andrew Forrest and this is your wake up call. Well, once again I'm glad to be back with you folks here in Sower Nation. I'm the senior pastor at Asbury Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the author of Love Goes First. And I am just excited to think about the seeds for the great awakening that seedbed has been sowing. And we are praying spiritual revival in our time and a great awakening. And we're praying that God uses today's wake up call to that end. Amen. In this little series, we're going to be looking at the second half of Exodus, which is, well, where if the first half is where God takes the people out of Egypt, the second half, what we'll study is where God gets Egypt out of the people, which I think is just as much a relevant message today as it was way back then. And so, Lord, we're grateful where you have brought us and keep going, O Lord. Amen. Wake up sleeper. Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Jesus, I belong to you. I lift up my heart to you. I set my mind on you. I fix my eyes on you. I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice. Jesus, we belong to you. Praying in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our scripture reading for the day is Exodus 19:1:6. Hear now the word of the Lord. On the third new moon, after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai. And they encamped in the wilderness. And there Israel encamped before the mountain. While Moses went up to God. The Lord God called to him out of the mountain, saying, thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the people of Israel, you yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Thus shall you say as you speak to the people of Israel, the word of the Lord. So what's the point of getting out of Egypt anyway? Why did the Lord go to all that trouble to get Israel out of Egypt? What's the point of the Exodus? Or to put it Another way. What's freedom for now, Exodus 19:1:6 makes up arguably the most important paragraph in Exodus. Back at the burning bush moment In Exodus chapter 3, verse 12, the Lord told Moses that when he and the people would arrive again at Mount Mount Sinai, he would know for certain that God is faithful. So they have finally arrived in Mount Sinai here in Exodus 19, and the Lord reveals to Moses the purpose. All along of the Exodus, the Lord tells the Israelites that they have seen with their own eyes what he did to the Egyptians and that the journey through the wilderness has had a purpose. The Lord didn't bring them into the desert to kill them like they complained, but rather he brought them on eagle's wings through the desert to this mountain for a purpose. But before the Lord reveals that purpose, he sets out the terms of the covenant he is making with Israel. A contract is a short term agreement, but a covenant is a lifelong, binding promise. The people need to listen and obey. And if they do so, they will then be God's special nation among all the nations of the earth. The whole earth belongs to the Lord. Yes, but Israel is especially chosen to represent the Lord to the nations. In fact, Israel is meant to be a kingdom of priests. Priests mediate between God and man, and they both represent people to God and God to people. That's Israel's special job, to represent the Lord. Just as at the burning bush, here Moses goes up to the mountain to receive a commission from the Lord. But this time the commission is for all the people. Previously they served Pharaoh, but now they are to serve the the Lord. Just as Moses received his identity at the burning bush, so here the people received their identity as God's special people. The apostle Peter drew upon this story when he wrote First Peter in the New Testament. But you, verse nine, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles, to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. First Peter 2, 9:12. The purpose of God's people is to represent the Lord to the nations, so that the nations can Come to know him and trust him and receive life in his name. What follows in Exodus with the Ten Commandments and the subsequent laws are specific ways that the Lord's people are to live so that they can draw the nations to the Lord. What a beautiful calling Church. We get to represent the Lord to the world. We get to share the good news of God's love. P.S. note in verse one that the entire calendar has reset with the Exodus. From now on, Israel will mark time from the day of their liberation. How cool is that? Lord, you have chosen us to be a light to the nations. Set us apart therefore, Lord, and shine through us so that others will see and be drawn to you. Purify us and give us strength for the mission. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Journal Prompts Priests Intercede for the People how can you intercede for someone today in prayer? What situation or need do you need to be lifting up to the Lord on someone else's behalf? Holiness is being set apart. Are there areas in your life in which you have become too much like the surrounding culture? Where do you need God's spirit to make you more holy? The church has a mission for the world. When you go about your day today, how can you carry forth that mission? I mean, isn't that the point of all that we're doing so that God can shape us and form us and send us out in his name? So today we will sing Here I am Lord hymn 589 from the seedbed Hymnal, Our Great Redeemer's Praise. It's a great hymn. Let us all sing it together.

[A]

I, the Lord of sea and sky I have heard my people cry all who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save I who made the stars of night I will make their darkness bright who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart.

[B]

Verse 3 I, the.

[A]

Lord of wind and flame I will tend the poor and lame I will set a feast for them My hand will save Finest bread I will provide Till their hearts be satisfied I will give my life to them Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart.

[B]

What a beautiful prayer. It says at the top of the hymnal. It's in the section for commitment and consecration. I love that. What a great hymn. Well, friends for the Awakening, I'm Andrew Forrest, and I'll see you in the field.

[A]

Sam.