Our God Is Yoke! Series

The word "yoke is used 50 times in the Old Testament and 8 times in the New Testament. We are not speaking about a part of an egg! I have a friend who will not eat the yokes of the eggs, Some people love the yokes runny.

But we know it was a wooden harness for two oxen or cattle, for a pair only to give restraint or control of the ones on the yoke. Job lost 500 yokes and then given 1,000 in the end of his life.

When a farmer would purchase for their cattle, it was important to get the perfect one that would not be too heavy or tight or wide which would cause pain when being in use. So it took skill to be made correctly and placed on the oxen. This is why Jesus instructed his disciples to take His "Yoke" Why? Because He is perfect in knowing what is needed when wearing this yoke, not literally but in a spiritual context.

Not only does He want us wear it but also to watch Him and learn of His example and character. It is very light! as though we cannot even feel the heavy load. This means to be by His side, walking with Him, listening to His words, following His commands, and enjoying His fellowship. JESUS IS OUR YOKEMATE!

When God created the birds, He saw they needed wings to help them keep alive. We don't have wings and was not meant to fly. John Moore wrote a favorite hymn that we love to sing, "Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary." He tells us the story of how he wrote those years ago when he was a Chaplain in the British Navy. He visited a critically ill in the hospital. He shared a tract called "Pilgrims Progress" and saw the picture of a pilgrim coming to the cross with a heavy backpack on his back. He said that is exactly how he (seaman) felt. The chaplain explained it was his sins on his back and and Jesus removed them from his back . They prayed and asked Jesus to remove them and with tears flowing, the seaman said, with joy and peace, "The Lord has lifted those burdens of mine." That night John Moore about that experience and put it to music.

What a great story of God as now millions of people sing that song around the world. But when we apply it to our burdens that we daily experience they can feel very heavy. Sickness, is heavy. Losing a spouse of close friend, the grief is heavy! Finances are gone or a relationship gone sour is heavy. Sin is rampant and unbearable to us. Distress is living inside of us every day and we are looking for peace and contentment.

Jesus said "To cast all of our cares on Him Not because somehow they will 'magically' disappear, but He will carry all of those burdens on His shoulders as He said and it is very light!

Conclusion: God is our Yoke breaker! Isaiah 10: 27, says "In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown fat." Today we are living in those days as God has removed the yoke from us, spiritually. We can now live in peace and joy and the sweetness of His will and enter into His eternal kingdom. Amen.