Probably the most common way of thinking about freedom is the state of having no physical restraint and being allowed to move our bodies without restrictions. We think of being handcuffed, chained, enslaved or jailed.
But not all freedoms are physical, tangible or visible to the eye.
Types of freedom in the Bible
There are several ways to think about freedom. They are generally in two categories:
- freedom from something, and
- freedom to do something.
To be free from something means to not have any obstacles, barriers, hindrances or restrictions.
This kind of freedom prevents people from doing what they want because of limitations.
These limitations could be external. For example slavery and oppression.
Or they could be internal and invisible. For example shame, guilt, and fear.
So we should be free from slavery, oppression, fear etc
Freedom to means being allowed to think, speak, act and behave according to your own convictions and conscience without being hindered or punished.
So we should be free to pursue personal goals, get a job and worship.
Freedom therefore is not just physical but it can relate to the various parts of our lives.
There are many stories in Scripture that illustrate these types of freedoms.
With this list of freedom stories, Bible references have been provided for each.
Do read the whole stories and study them. There are a few study questions at the end of the article that you can use to guide your study.
Stories about freedom in the Old Testament
Often there is a threat to the freedom of God’s people in some form or another.
In these stories I will highlight how God showed up to provide rescue and deliverance for his people so they can live in freedom.
Lot – Genesis 14, Genesis 19
- Freedom from life as a slave to a pagan king
- Freedom to live without the restrictions of slavery and captivity
- Freedom from the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah
- Freedom to live free from the wickedness of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
Jacob – Genesis 27 – 28, 31 – 33
- Freedom from the abuse and tyranny of his uncle Laban
- Freedom to return home and raise his family independently
- Freedom from the guilt of stealing the blessing of his brother and the fear of being killed by him
- Freedom to live freely in his blessing, restore his relationship with his brother, and settle down in safety in the same region where his brother lived
Joseph – Genesis 39
- Freedom from the jealousy, anger and mistreatment of his brothers
- Freedom from Egyptian prison
- Freedom to run Potiphar’s house
- Freedom to rule over all of Egypt
- Freedom from the hurt and pain caused by his brothers selling him into slavery
- Freedom to forgive his brothers and embrace God’s will for him to lead in Egypt and save the world from famine
Moses – Exodus 3
- Freedom to return to Egypt after 40 years as a fugitive who murdered an Egyptian
- Freedom to live his purpose as the one to be used by God to deliver Israel from Egyptian slavery
The Israelites – Exodus 3:7-10, 8:1. 9:1, 12 – 14
- Freedom from Egyptian slavery
- Freedom to serve and worship God
- Freedom to pursue occupying the promised land of Canaan
Joshua – Joshua 1-2
- Freedom from fear of going to battle with the Canaanites
- Freedom to trust God, have courage and move forward with conquering the Canaanites
The Israelites – Judges 6:1-7, 8:28
- Freedom from the Midianites and the Amalekites
- Freedom to plant and reap their own crops and live in peace in their land
The Israelites – Judges 4 , 5
- Freedom from oppression of the Canaanite king
- Freedom to travel safely on roads, plant and reap and live in peace
Ruth and Naomi –
- Freedom from grief, a life of poverty, hunger, destitution and at the mercy of society
- Freedom to start over, to access food and shelter and to live a full life
The Jubilee year – Exodus 21:2, Jeremiah 34:14
- Freedom from slavery for Israelites
- Freedom to live as independent citizens
David – 1 Samuel 17, 23:7-24:22, Psalm 51
- Freedom from fear of Goliath
- Freedom to fight Goliath with confidence
- Freedom from the tyranny of Saul who hunted David to murder him
- Freedom to step into his calling as king and to live in peace in Israel
- Freedom from the guilt and shame of the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and premeditated murder of her husband Uriah
- Freedom to move on with life and live in the fullness of God’s grace
The Jewish exiles – Jeremiah 29:10, Ezra 1:1-4
- Freedom from Babylon captivity
- Freedom to return to Jerusalem and Judah
The Jewish people in Persia during Esther’s reign – Esther 3:8-15, 8:11-17
- Freedom from fear of death and genocide
- Freedom to be Jewish, to assemble and to defend themselves against attacks
The three Hebrew men – Daniel 3
- Freedom from the fiery furnace and death
- Freedom to worship the true God
Daniel – Daniel 6
- Freedom from the lions den and death
- Freedom to pray and worship God according to His convictions
The widow with jug of oil – 2 Kings 4:1-7
- Freedom from the fear of her sons ending up in slavery
- Freedom to live with her boys in peace without fear of debt collectors and pursue financial freedom
Elijah – 1 Kings 19
- Freedom from Jezebel and her tyranny
- Freedom to preach about and worship Jehovah
Naaman – 2 Kings 5
- Freedom from leprosy
- Freedom to live a healthy life, be a fully present captain and worship the true God
Jeremiah – Jeremiah 20:1-3, 38:1-13, 40:1-6
- Freedom from stocks, a pit and Babylonian exile
- Freedom to preach, prophecy, live anywhere in Israel or Babylon, while others were forced to go to Babylon
Jonah – Jonah 2:10, 3:1-4
- Freedom from the belly of the whale
- Freedom to preach to Nineveh
Stories of freedom in the New Testament
Large crowds – Matthew 15:30-31
- Freedom from sickness
- Freedom to live without pain or disability
Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-31
- Freedom from a life as a poor beggar or a hired servant
- Freedom from sin, guilt and shame
- Freedom to live as a fully restored son
The woman with the issue of blood – Luke 8:43-45
- Freedom from sickness, shame, and rejection
- Freedom to live a healthy and happy life
Woman caught in adultery – John 8;1-11
- Freedom from condemnation and death
- Freedom to live a life free of sin and shame
The sinful woman – Luke 7:36-50
- Freedom from sin, guilt, shame and rejection
- Freedom to worship openly and live at peace with God
Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna – Luke 8:1-3
- Freedom from demon possession and other sicknesses
- Freedom to live as disciples, in holiness and service to Jesus
The demonic – Luke 8:26-39
- Freedom from demon possession
- Freedom to live by his own choices, and to follow Jesus
Blind Bartimaeus – Mark 10:46-52, Matthew 20:29-34, and Luke 18:35-43
- Freedom from a life as a poor beggar living in physical darkness and the rejection from others
- Freedom to see, speak up, earn a living and worship God
Nicodemus – John 3:1-21
- Freedom from misunderstanding God’s purpose, the gospel, and the way to salvation.
- Freedom to live in truth and believe in Jesus
Peter – Luke 22:54-62, John 21, Acts 12:1-19
- Freedom from the guilt and shame of denying Jesus
- Freedom to fulfill Jesus’ command to preach and teach
- Freedom from prison
- Freedom to preach the gospel
Paul and Silas – Acts 16:16-40
- Freedom from prison
- Freedom to sing while in prison
- Freedom to share the gospel
The woman bent over – Luke 13:10-17
- Freedom from physical sickness and disability
- Freedom to stand up straight and walk upright
New Heaven and New Earth – Revelation 21
- Freedom from sin, death, grief, darkness and fear
- Freedom to live in perfect harmony, peace, and light forever
Stories about God giving the freedom to choose
God is always in the business of allowing us to make our own choices. We have the freedom to so whatever we want because God has given free will. What we do with it is completely up to us.
Here are some examples where the God-given freedom to choose led down a bitter road.
Adam and Eve – Genesis 2:17, 3:1-7
- Freedom to choose to eat of the tree of knowledge, good and evil
Cain – Genesis 4:1-8
- Freedom to give in to the sin of covetousness and murder
The Israelites – Joshua 24:14-15
- The freedom to choose whom they will serve
The Rich Young Ruler – Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, and Luke 18:18-30
- Freedom to choose to sell all and follow Jesus
Bible study ideas
As you can see from this list, freedom is woven into the fabric of Scripture. It’s right there in places we would not ordinarily look.
These stories teach us that God is interested in our freedom, no matter what type it is: physical, emotional, financial or spiritual
To study these stories ask and answer the following questions:
- What freedom was under threat?
- Where did the threat of freedom come from?
- What caused the threat to freedom?
- What was the result or impact of the lack of freedom?
- How does God restore freedom to the lives of the characters? Who or what does God use to aid in this process?
- What can you learn about God’s character and His desire for our freedom?
May you be blessed with true freedom in the Lord.
Leave a Reply