Because of the similarities, this return of God’s people from Babylon has often been called the second Exodus. The second release. Nine hundred years after He released His people from Egypt, God felt the same way toward the exiles in Babylon:

God heard their groaning, and
God remembered His covenants
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and
God saw the sons of Israel, and
God knew. ^{Exodus 2:24-25}
How do we know He felt that way? Because God’s heart is always to RELEASE people who are in bondage, captivity, and slavery.

That’s why the pinnacle of His release came in Jesus:
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim RELEASE to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set FREE those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD. ^{Luke 4:18-19}

Friend, are you in some type of bondage, captivity, or slavery? Perhaps to fear or shame? Or resentment? Maybe it’s your past. It could be to addictions or appetites. Or what others think. Are you waiting for an invitation to be set free? Here it is:

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself?
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Jesus Is Calling, by Wade Joye, Christopher Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick