No Turning Back
“Captivity: Leaving What Enslaves You”
Exodus 1-2

Exodus – 8 Episodes 
Captivity
Burning bush
Plagues and Passover 
Waters part 
Character of God
Covenant life 
Golden calf
God’s presence 	

It’s a journey marked by fear, faith, and failure, but once it begins, there is “no turning back.”

Exodus = “departure” 

Exodus 1-2

“Now there arose a new king over Egypt … Israel are too many and too mighty for us … they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens … So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves … made their lives bitter with hard service … they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.” –Exodus 1:8-13

Episode 1: Captivity
Captivity = Enslavement

“… I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” –John 8:34 (2 Peter 2:19; Galatians 5:1; Proverbs 5:22)

Some of the things that enslave us are the result of us running to them to become free, only to be in enslaved.

“Amen” by Shaboozey & Jelly Roll (2024)
Somebody say a prayer for me
'Cause the pills ran out and I still can't sleep
Somebody send a word upstairs
'Cause the bar's shut down and I'm God knows where
So should knock on Heaven's door
'Cause mine ain't working anymore
Somebody say a prayer for me
All I'm asking for is a little mercy, Amen

What if the most powerful step into a new year isn’t starting something new, but leaving something behind?  

“… Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.” –Exodus 2:23b

“And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” –Exodus 2:24-25

God in our enslavement (Exodus 2:24-25)
Freedom in our souls is the beginning of becoming free 
You can be free from emotional, mental, physical, and relational captivity, but still not be free
Our rescue from enslavement can only come from God
God knows every detail of our future, and He will lead us there if we are willing to trust and follow

Freedom isn’t the absence of a master. It’s choosing the right one.

“God, will you rescue me?”