The Isaianic New Exodus in Colossians 1

In Colossians 1:12-14, Paul explains that part of what it means to walk in a manner worthy of Christ (v. 10), is to "give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Paul then goes on to give the reason we are able to walk in a manner worthy of Christ. The reason is that "He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Note that when Paul uses this language, he is bringing to the minds of his readers the new exodus about which the prophet Isaiah and several other Old Testament prophets speak. In the Jewish mind, during the time when this was written, the Exodus was the most significant event in the history of the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel was subject to brutal slavery in the land of Egypt. But through an awe-evoking supernatural work of God, they were delivered out of the hands of the Egyptians and brought to inherit the Promised Land. It is with this background that Isaiah begins to tell of a new covenant, a new inheritance, and a new exodus. In Isaiah chapter 60, Isaiah prophesies saying, “behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” And then in the following chapter, Isaiah says that he has come “to preach good news to the poor” and “to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners from darkness.”

So now when Paul says that these Christians have been "delivered" from the "dominion of darkness," when he speaks of "the inheritance if the saints" in v. 12, and when he speaks of their "redemption" in v. 14, he’s saying that the time of the new covenant, and the time of the new inheritance, and the time of the new exodus has dawned! Hallelujah!