By far, the most common self-description of God is "I AM Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt." It is repeated so often it almost becomes part of His name. Quite often it is just mentioned as an identifier and perhaps as a justification for giving commands. Lev. 19:36 "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." See also Deut. 20:1 and Ps. 81:10.
Other times God gives some of the reasons He brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt: to be their God and to give them the promised land. Lev. 25:38, Numb. 15:41, Judges 2:12.
The most common reason given for God bringing Israel out of Egypt is to free them from slavery. Ex. 6:7, Lev. 26:13, Deut. 5:6, 8:14, & 13:5, etc. They were in Egypt as slaves and He brought them out to be free. In fact, this was meant to be a permanent situation. God didn't want His people enslaved. This was made part of the Law. For example, one way to get out of a bad financial situation in that time and culture was to sell yourself into slavery. God, in the Law, states that if one of His people is in that situation, you weren't to treat him as a bond slave but as a hired hand and he was to be released at the Year of Jubilee. (Lev. 25:39-46) The reason God gives is simple: "For they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen" (vs 42). God had freed them from slavery and they were not to be enslaved again.
God is the God who frees His people from slavery.
This characteristic of God is clearly seen in the New Testament too. John 8:34, among many other passages, tells us that "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin". God again found His people enslaved and led them to freedom. Rom. 6:17-18 "But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness." How did God accomplish this? Through his Son, God worked out a way to lead us from the slavery of sin. Rom. 3:23-25 "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God." We can have remission of sins through repentance and baptism into His Son. (Acts 2:38) Our sins are blotted out (Acts 3:19). We are now free from sin, free to serve righteousness.
God also frees us from many worldly problems related to sin. For instance, did you know that the #1 class of prescription drugs is antidepressants? Because of sin many in this world feel dirty, worthless and unfit. Paul tells us that, in freeing us from sin, God has washed, sanctified and justified us (1 Cor. 13:9). We are no longer dirty, because God frees His people.
Lack of hope is another major problem for most people in the world. Have you ever seen the bumper sticker "Life's a b****h and then you die"? In fact, no hope in the world was the basis of several Greek philosophies. Both the Stoics and Epicureans came to their conclusions from the premise of no hope. The New Testament teaches differently. 75 times the word hope is used to describe the Christian life. God is the God who frees us from hopelessness.
God has made us free. The only way we can ever again become enslaved is if we sell ourselves back to sin. Let us instead rejoice in our freedom and our new chance to serve Him.
John_8:36 "If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
Lucas Ward