Freelancing and Exodus: Lessons on Life’s Transitions

Introduction: Freelancing and the Exodus Connection

After seeing many discussions on Reddit about the struggle of freelancing after quitting their jobs, and watching Biblical lessons by Dr. Jordan Peterson, it dawned on me that there is a simple connection. We can relate this to the world of freelancing, which is also a very challenging journey.

I want to share a few things I’ve learned, especially after watching Dr. Peterson’s videos on the story of Exodus. This is my take on two ideas I’ve come to understand, and I hope they might provide some insights.

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The Comfort of Employment vs. The Journey of Freelancing

As employees for many years, or even a decades, we become comfortable with the idea of serving someone else. In the Bible, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years (Exodus 12:40). When Moses led them out of Egypt, it wasn’t an immediate escape to freedom and happiness. Instead, they wandered in the desert for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33-34).

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The ‘Desert Moments’ in Freelancing

I mention this because it reflects the transition from being an employee to becoming a freelancer. You can’t simply leap into freelancing and expect instant success. Like the Israelites, you won’t reach your “Promised Land”—in this case, success or financial stability—overnight. You will experience your “desert moments”—times of hardship and uncertainty. Most of us have experienced this, wanting to return to the security of a regular job, just as the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt when they faced difficulties (Exodus 16:2-3).

Freelancing can be tough and overwhelming. There are many things you won’t be prepared for, and you may feel the urge to return to the comfort of a stable job, just as the Israelites longed for their old life in Egypt. But this is a powerful metaphor: you must go through the desert to reach your goal. It won’t be easy. While some people seem to succeed quickly, they likely went through their own difficult struggles (James 1:2-4).

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The Temptation to Return to the Familiar

One issue I see with freelancing advocacy is that it doesn’t always explain the tough process that comes with it. Freelancing doesn’t lead to the “Promised Land” right away. And what is the Promised Land? In practical terms, it’s achieving a decent livelihood for yourself and your family (Deuteronomy 8:7-9). But just like Moses, who was able to see the Promised Land but did not enter it (Deuteronomy 34:4-5), you may not achieve your ultimate goal as quickly as you hoped. It’s a process, and just like the Israelites, your future self will benefit from the perseverance and effort you put in now.

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Conclusion: Persevering Through the Desert

Freelancing is a journey, just like the Israelites’ path to the Promised Land. The struggles and setbacks—your ‘desert moments’—are part of the process, and they build resilience. By embracing the hardships and staying committed, you can eventually reach your own version of success, providing a stable and decent livelihood for yourself and your family.

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Bible Verses Included:

1. Exodus 12:40 – “Now the time that the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.”
2. Numbers 14:33-34 – “Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.”
3. Exodus 16:2-3 – “The whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness… ‘Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full!'”
4. James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
5. Deuteronomy 8:7-9 – “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land… a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing.”
6. Deuteronomy 34:4-5 – “Then the Lord said to him, ‘This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.'”

 

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• Do you want to be a VA? – Make sure you know the difference between a VA and Freelancing

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