Yoke-Breaker
Who knows what a yoke is? Being a farmer, I know this
word has historical value. Before tractors and such, farmers used horses or
oxen to move equipment. Two oxen would be yoked or tied together with a wooden
pole, then harnessed to pull the load. Hopefully the oxen or horses were the
same size and pulled the load evenly and easily. If an ox and a horse were
yoked together, not only did it take more work, but often they couldn’t pull in
a straight line.
Often times, Scripture uses the idea of a yoke figuratively, to give a mental
picture to the people. Being under a yoke meant bondage or servitude to
someone, usually more like a tyrannical relationship than a democratic one. This
is the type of situation mentioned in Genesis 27:40, Leviticus 26:13, 1 Kings
12:10-14, Isaiah 9:6, and Nahum 1:13. Before you go any further, stop and look
those verses up.
With those verses in mind, we can continue. You will have
noticed that some of those verses were God talking, saying he would break the
yoke and free them from bondage. God never intended us to carry that kind of
yoke. In the New Testament, there is another kind of yoke mentioned that God
didn’t like either.
“Now therefore why
tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers
nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Acts 15:10-11
In this verse, Paul is debating the issue of circumcision
with other apostles. This verse is reminding them that Jesus died to free
people from the yoke of Old Testament laws and traditions. Grace and truth come
together. God’s laws are not intended to hinder freedom, but rather to enable
us to be truly spiritually FREE. Jesus paid the price, broke the yoke; and now
you and I can walk in Him without any fear of bondage.
Paul again speaks about a yoke in Galatians, warning the Christians
there of putting themselves back under bondage to sin. Jesus made us free. Why
then, would you want to go back to being tied down to every whim of another
master? Instead, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath
made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians
5:1
Are you tired of being held in bondage to sin? Are you
weary from trying to obey that tyrannical law in your own strength? The invitation is still open today as it was
two thousand years ago. Jesus calls us to a different yoke- one where He gives
the strength and enables us to serve Him. -Where the burden is never unequal to
our strength in Him. -Where peace reigns in our hearts.
Come to Jesus. He is the Yoke-Breaker. He set me free,
and He’ll do the same for you!
“Come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find riest
unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew
11:28-30
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