While studying the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, I came across a familiar allegory that is used repeatedly throughout Scriptures: the yoke. In his book, the “weeping prophet” frequently confronted God’s people concerning their sin and rebellion against His commandments and statutes. Jeremiah’s admonishment culminates in his prophecy concerning Jerusalem’s fall, which resulted in the Babylonian conquest in 586 B.C.

In chapter five, Jeremiah refers to the spiritual leaders’ disobedience as “breaking off the yoke and tearing off the bonds.” As I started digging deeper to understand the “yoke” metaphor better, I flipped to the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, where Jesus said these infamous words:

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your soul.”

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation @AJC
Click To Tweet

The illustration made me curious. I know what a yoke is. A yoke is a tool used to keep an ox captive, not to set it free. And yet, the prophet refers to “breaking the yoke” as a negative thing. And Jesus tells His followers to “take his yoke upon (them) to find rest for (their) souls.” According to Scriptures, the conclusion is clear: One cannot find peace unless they are “yoked” to God. I needed to dig a little deeper.

My study led me to an interesting French article published in 1977 called: “Better Farming Series 14 – Farming with Animal Power.” The exposé is a step-by-step guide for farmers who wish to train an ox to work while wearing a yoke.

A yoke is a piece of wood placed on two oxen’s heads or necks while they pull farm implements. It must be made of sturdy wood, but it cannot be too heavy; otherwise, it will tire the animals. As I continued reading the article, one of the steps jumped out of the page:

“To get young oxen used to the yoke, you can put the ox which is to be trained along with an ox already trained. (…)”

My mind went back and forth to my recent readings of Scriptures, in particular, Jesus’ words in the Gospels.

When Jesus said those words, He was referring to the extra burdens the Pharisees and teachers of the law implemented in their daily devotions and demanded from their followers. Jesus was saying that His followers did not need the weight of empty religion. In the context of His teachings, He offered a yoke that guided them, instead of binding them to the “try harder” or “do more” burden of religion and legalism.

Jesus' 'yoke' guides us, instead of binding us to the 'try harder' or 'do more' burden of religion and legalism. #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation @AJC
Click To Tweet

The Jews that listened to Jesus understood the reference. They could not help but remember the hundreds of rules they had to follow, only to find themselves ever further from “pleasing God.” The yoke that bound them to the strong ox of legalism was heavy and unsustainable. They found themselves working harder to please God’s requirements, whereas never finding peace.

The same happens today. Many religious people find themselves trapped under a heavy yoke, bound to empty religious activities that can never bring real joy and purpose. Even the very effort to stay faithful to God can weigh us down if we are not careful. On the other hand, God’s yoke is the free offer of help by a much stronger, more “trained” Force. It’s the light yoke that guides rather than binds and makes us genuinely productive rather than tired from empty laboring.

God’s yoke is the free offer of help by a much stronger, more 'trained' force. It’s the light yoke that guides rather than binds and makes us genuinely productive rather than tired from empty laboring. #MondayDevotional…
Click To Tweet

As I meditated upon the importance of being yoked to a God and the apparent paradox that the imagery brings, a big smile crossed my face. The illustration could not be timelier.

As we experience the uncertainties our society faces, from political and social unrest to health and economic concerns, you and I are certainly yoked to something. The question is: Will we choose to be bound to the weighty anxieties of tomorrow and empty laboring, or will we choose to lay down our burdens and remain yoked to the only One who truly knows where we are going? Our response will determine whether we can indeed find rest, even in the darkest days.

Will we choose to be bound to the weighty anxieties of tomorrow and empty laboring, or will we choose to lay down our burdens and remain yoked to the only One who truly knows where we are going?
Click To Tweet

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – July 18, 2020. Find it on the AJC website HERE. 

LINKUP PARTY opens Wednesdays at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! This week, my latest @AJC column is a reflection on the biblical meaning of the 'yoke' and a challenge to every Christian: what (or who) are you bound to? Join us and share your blog with our audience!
Click To Tweet

The post We Are All YOKED to Something {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution & LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Two oxen bound by the beck and tied together under a wooden bar. Wherever one moves, the other one must follow. They share the burden and carry the loads together. There is no escape for the strapped animals – they will stay together, no matter what, unless their master sets them free… or one of them breaks lose, somehow.

I stared at the picture my pastor put on the screen yesterday morning, taking in the depth of the imagery. As illustration to his sermon “A Personal Invitation” based on Matthew 11:28-30, he used the picture of an oxen’s yoke to remind us of Jesus’ invitation to share the believer’s burdens: If we have Jesus and stay close to Him, He promises to help carry our every burden, just as oxen help each another.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

It was a wonderful message on the hope and promise we have in Christ: Even though we may walk through dark valleys, we are never alone to bear life’s heavy burdens.

During my prayer time this morning, however, the Holy Spirit revealed another facet of this imagery.

I was praying specifically for some women I know, who have asked prayers for their children. These mothers are suffering as their children struggle with various issues.  Prodigal sons and daughters who seem to have broken lose from the yoke they share with Christ… and are now bearing heavy burdens on their own.

While praying for these friends, an overwhelming feeling of sadness grabbed my heart. It’s as if, as a mother, I could feel these sweet ladies’ burdens. As I prayed and cried out to the Lord, a bible verse popped in my head, together with the picture of the yoke I saw yesterday at church. I finished praying, and looked up the verse, hidden in the book of Isaiah:

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6 – NASB

When Isaiah penned these words, he was admonishing Israel about the motives behind their worship and service. Israel was missing the point of a vital, living relationship with Yahweh. True worship must be more than religious rituals such as going to the temple, fasting and serving at church. He does not want us acting righteous, while we harbor wickedness in our lives or unforgiveness in our hearts. Isaiah uses the imagery of oxen bound by a yoke when he talks about the unrighteousness in Israel’s heart, as well as the oppression that kept people enslaved to their sin.

Upon further study, I found the same imagery in several other passages of Scriptures:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. Leviticus 26:13

And in the New Testament:

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

And so, It dawned on me.

“Wait a second.” I thought, “there is no way that two oxen are put together under a piece of wood, a strap around their neck, and magically start walking in the same direction without resistance. There must be a method to the madness.”

And so, I googled it, of course.

On top of the page, in bold letter, the explanation I sought:

Teaching oxen to wear the yoke

Two days before beginning the training, tie the oxen for a few hours to a tree. The animals will get used to being tied, and will be quieter.

(…)

To get young oxen used to the yoke, you can put the ox which is to be trained along with an ox already trained. 

Binding together – It Takes Time

The article explaining how to train an ox is designed for new farmers, but it is filled with insight on why the Lord used the imagery of a yoke to talk both about slavery, as well as the bond formed between us and Christ, as we draw close to Him.

Learning how to bring Christ our burdens and allowing Him to help us carry them is not something that happens overnight. It’s a day-by-day exercise. It only happens as we train to spend time with the Master. Only as we allow ourselves to be trained “alongside” Him who has been trained in all things, are we able to follow His every direction, and not rebel against His leading. We learn to trust Him.

But let us not deceive ourselves. There are many people, including Christians, who are bound under the wrong yoke. They are slaves, and don’t even know it. The leading “strong ox” under that yoke… is satan.

There are many people, including Christians, who are bound under the wrong yoke. They are slaves, and don’t even know it. The leading “strong ox” under that yoke… is satan.
Click To Tweet

They may be under the yoke of addiction… or depression… or under sexual six. The strong ox is leading the way to all the wrong roads, keeping them bound, lost and defenseless.

But the good news for us today, my friend, is that Yahweh, the God of Covenant, is also a Yoke Breaker.

The One who broke the yoke of slavery that held His people for 400 years in Egypt, is strong enough to break every chain. But we must invite Him into the process… and agree to lay down whatever is keeping us bound.

The One who broke the yoke of slavery that held His people for 400 years in Egypt, is strong enough to break every chain.
Click To Tweet

As I closed my prayer time for my friends, the words kept pouring out of my lips, repeatedly:

“Break the Yoke, Father. Break the Yoke, Lord. In the mighty Name of Jesus, break every yoke.”

If your child has gone astray… and seems to be bound under the wrong yoke, I challenge you to boldly cry out of the Master, begging Him to break it… knowing that He is faithful to hear your prayers, and set them free.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph 6:12
Click To Tweet

The post Spiritual Warfare: Your Prodigal Child appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.