During my quiet time with the Lord this morning, I read Moses' account when God called him to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites. I couldn’t help but smile as I read Moses' excuses. “They won’t believe me or listen to me” and “I can’t speak well.” Sounds familiar, right? I’ve used those myself on a few occasions. Let’s face it, we humans are really good at making excuses, especially if we don’t want to get out of a nice warm bed to do something that’s not fun, like shoveling the winter snow off the driveway.

This was important though. God wanted the Israelites to be free. He chose Moses to help bring about that freedom; a foreshadowing of Christ coming to give us freedom from our sins.

Sometimes we don’t give freedom its full credit, especially since most Americans have never known anything but freedom. Unlike many countries, we can choose our profession, whether we’ll have children and how many, and where we will shop. How often do we squander our freedoms? We have the freedom to forgive and live in peace, or stir the pot of divisiveness. We have the freedom to attend church, or sleep in; to encourage others, or ignore them; read our Bibles, or watch TV. We have the freedom to follow Christ, or be distracted by work or hobbies. Can we just admit, we’re really good at making excuses and in doing so, can squander our freedoms.

Scripture in Exodus 5:1 says: “Free my people (or let my people go in other translations) so they can hold a festival for me in the wilderness.” (MSG)

In Exodus 6:10-11: “God said to Moses, ‘Go and speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he will release the Israelites from his land.” (MSG).

Smack dab in the middle of both these verses is an important word: SO. The instruction ahead of the SO was meant for a specific purpose. Free the people SO they could worship. Talk to Pharoah SO there is freedom.

There is a “SO” in our lives too. Do we use our freedoms SO our lives are comfortable? Or do we use our freedoms SO God can use us to influence the next generation, to further his kingdom, and spread His good news? If we let anything, whether it be excuses, fear, insecurity, or distrust keep us from doing the “SO” in our lives, we could miss the reason we’re here. Whatever “SO” we’re called to fulfill, God will equip us, hopefully with something other than a staff that turns into a snake. That makes me shudder.

“SO” is such an itty-bitty word, but it has the power to change the trajectory of lives, including our own. It also has the power to free people from bad habits and choices, and move forward in new directions. So? What are you letting hold you back from the “SO” that God has made you to do?