September 14, 2014:
Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor
September 14, 2014
“Let My People Go” — “A Few Thoughts on the Exodus”
Did you know the most famous phrase — “Let my people go!” — was not spoken by Moses?
Public speaking is a great fear for many people and it is fascinating that Moses shared it. When God calls Moses to deliver the enslaved Hebrews from their awful bondage, Moses begs off: “I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue.” (See Exodus 4:10) God accepts his lack of eloquence and commissions Aaron to deliver the line — not that he succeeds any better in persuading Pharaoh who dismisses the demand by saying: “I don’t know your God.”
Speaking truth to power does not usually bring an immediate positive response from the powerful who want to keep things as they are. The demand for freedom and justice usually annoys them just as it did Pharaoh. In Pharaoh’s case he increases the suffering of the Hebrew slaves. We’ve seen the same thing in our time. When our modern Moses, Dr. King, confronted the powers that be and demanded freedom and justice for African Americans, the result was more cruelty and violence. Those who enslave others seem to be slow of hearing! The demand for freedom and justice has to be repeated many times. And just to be sure the powerful get the message, like Pharaoh with the plagues, modern pharaohs may have to face economic boycotts, sit-ins, demonstrations, and the like to persuade them to act in a moral way.
By the way, did you ever notice that the seven plagues that hit Egypt hurt not only the Egyptians but the Hebrew slaves as well? Only the death of the first-born sons does not hit the Hebrews. The lack of freedom and justice corrupts and destroys a decent life for all people whether persecuted or not.
One last thought; even after all they went through to be free, once the Hebrew people in the wilderness faced the demands and responsibilities of freedom, they wanted to go back to Egyptian slavery! Freedom is as much a burden as oppression. Freedom is hard work.
Love,
Pastor Dave