Man's Purpose of Life

Exodus 8:20 indicates man's purpose of life is to worship the Lord God. Isn't it true?

Yes—your reading is theologically sound.

Exodus 8:20 does indeed reveal humanity’s fundamental purpose: to worship the LORD God—and it does so in a way that is deeper than mere ritual.

Exodus 8:20

“Let my people go, that they may worship (serve) me.”

This single sentence carries extraordinary weight.

1. The Key Word: “Worship” = “Serve”

The Hebrew verb used here is עָבַד (ʿavad), which means:

to serve

to work

to worship

👉 In biblical thought, worship is not separate from life—it is life rightly ordered.

So the verse does not say:

“Let my people go so they may be free”

or “so they may be happy”

or “so they may be prosperous”

But:

“Let my people go, so that they may belong to Me in worshipful service.”

Freedom is for worship, not the other way around.

2. Exodus Defines the Human Problem Correctly.

Pharaoh is not merely a political tyrant.

He is a false lord who claims ownership of human labor, time, and identity.

Thus the real conflict is:

Egypt says.                               God says

“You exist to serve Pharaoh”  “You exist to.                                                          worship Me”

“Your worth is productivity”     “Your worth is.                                                       relationship”

“You belong to the system”      “You belong to.                                                        the LORD”

Exodus 8:20 answers the question:

Who has the right to define the purpose of human life?

3. Worship Is Not an Activity — It Is an Orientation

Notice:

God does not say where first (land comes later)

God does not say how long first

God does not say what kind of rituals

He states why:

“that they may worship Me”

This means:

Work is worship when ordered toward God;

Aging is worship when received before God;

Suffering is worship when endured with God; and 

Even death becomes worship when entrusted to God.

👉 Worship is the alignment of one’s whole being toward God.

4. Why Worship Must Happen Outside Egypt

God insists on worship away from Egypt (wilderness). 

Why?

Because:

You cannot worship the LORD while remaining owned by Pharaoh.

You cannot serve God while your identity is defined by oppression, fear, or productivity.

Worship requires separation of lordship.

This is why salvation is not merely internal. It involves leaving Egypt—old masters, old definitions of worth.

5. The Christian Fulfillment

Jesus echoes Exodus perfectly:

“You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” (Matthew 4:10)

Paul completes the thought:

“You are not your own… therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)

And Revelation shows the end of the story:

“His servants will worship Him.” (Revelation 22:3)

👉 Creation begins in worship, redemption restores worship, eternity fulfills worship.

6. A Precise Theological Conclusion

Yes—Exodus 8:20 teaches that the purpose of human life is worship, but with biblical precision:

Human life exists to belong to God in worshipful service—

not as slaves, but as redeemed people in fellowship with Him.

Freedom is not the goal.

Worship is the goal.

Freedom is the necessary condition for true worship.

One-sentence summary (meditative):

We are freed not to live for ourselves, but to live before God.