God called on Moses to set the Israelites free from slavery. As all leaders know, they need the help of others.
God told Moses, “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors . . . has appeared to me, saying: I have given heed to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt.
“‘I declare that I will bring you up out of the misery of Egypt . . . to a land flowing with milk and honey'” (Exodus 3.16-17).
The leaders were certainly aware of God’s promise to Joseph. They quite possibly clung to God’s promise as they suffered the oppression of Egyptian slavery.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely come to you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Genesis 50:24).
The Hebrew leaders and Moses were charged to appear before the king of Egypt and say,
“The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God” (Exodus 3.18).
God assured Moses of his presence. However, Moses learned that the exodus from slavery in Egypt would not be trouble-free. Two key features of God’s activity were revealed to him.
(1) Both the Israelites and Egyptians would personally know God through his “mighty hand” of deliverance.
“I know, however, that the king of Egypt will not let you go except by a mighty hand” (Exodus 3.19).
(2) God would see that the Hebrew people were recompensed for their 430 years of slavery.
“I will bring this people into such favor with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed . . . so you shall plunder the Egyptians” (Exodus 3.21-22).
Just as God planned for his people to be repaid for the years of free labor they had provided the Egyptians, he expected his people to do the same to slaves who served them.
“If a member of your community, whether a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and works for you six years, in the seventh year you shall set that person free.
“And when you send a male slave out from you a free person, you shall not send him out empty-handed” (Deuteronomy 15:12-13).
More than a History Lesson
The story of the Exodus recognizes that God desires freedom for all people. We can’t read the story without recognizing our role to religious actively work to end all forms of injustice in society.
The passage encourages us to know God’s promises and to pray for their fulfillment at all times in our lives.
Reflecting on God’s command to recompense the Hebrew people for their years of slavery, Jesus’ followers should seriously consider how to right historical wrongs.
For example, while it may be difficult to envision a monetary settlement as a means to rectify the historical injustices inflicted upon African and Native Americans, easier access to voting rights for these groups is a possibility worth considering.
Moses Wasn’t Ready.
Imagine this situation. Moses is having a conversation with God who is speaking through a burning bush. As far as we know, God had not appeared to any human being in over 400 years.
God has revealed his plans and called Moses to join him. Moses is reluctant to follow God’s direction.
Then Moses said to God, “But look, they may not believe me or listen to me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” (Exodus 4.1).
This is a strong example of a “faith without works is dead” situation. Moses can’t claim to believe and fail to act.
Neither can we. We can’t claim to be aligned with God’s agenda and fail to care about setting oppressed people free.
God gave Moses several signs that would be used before the Hebrew elders and Pharaoh to authenticate his message.
At this point in the story, it was up to Moses to walk in faith – faith that was demonstrated by action.
Faith is not a theory, but it is a response to God and his direction for life.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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