“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, ‘Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.’ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.” – Exodus 1:8-12
Our schedule of Bible reading for this Summer includes the epic stories of the line of Abraham and Sarah. One theme that runs through all of these stories is that God works through adversity. To be called by God, and to be in covenant with the Creator, does not mean that life is easier. In fact, being in relationship with God often results in greater struggle and challenge. The message that becomes clear is that God is present through these times and allows for these crises to become an occasion for growth, perseverance, and change; and for God’s purpose to prevail. This doesn’t mean that the pain and struggle are not real, nor that they are somehow diminished or made palatable. It simply means that God’s intent will find a way, despite – and sometimes through – adversity.
In the story of Jacob’s children in Egypt, and the Exodus saga, we find the mechanisms for how God prevails. We receive insight to both the oppressor and the oppressed. We certainly can see how in our history, attempts to put down, exploit, and marginalize immigrants and asylum seekers (based on our own fear) will often backfire! And we can see how working together, recognizing our common hurts and hopes, forges a common identity and provides the strength to persevere.
In our current crisis, we all experience some form of pain, struggle, discontent, and dis-ease. Many of us have been touched by unexpected death or at least the realization of our own mortality. As the meme states, “We might not all be in the same boat, but we are all in the same storm.” Perhaps this realization of our common crisis will provide the occasion for us to rediscover our common identity as children of God. Perhaps in uniting to fight this common enemy, doing our part, we will come to that day when we will escape this captivity and celebrate the fact that each of us has value.
“Do I have any value?” is the question we will deal with in church this Sunday. (Spoiler alert: Yes you do! We are sure of this only when we recognize it as God-given.) Here are the post-sermon discussion questions:
1. What are some things you have done to try to make people
like you?
2. What is one of your gifts that you can use for the glory of God?
3. How can you show another that they have value?
God of the light and the darkness, remind us that you are always with us. Help us to know that you treasure each one of us and want the best for each. Free us from a need to prove ourselves worthy to receive your mercy; instead, receiving your grace, allow us to extend that love to others. Transform our hearts and minds, so that we will focus beyond ourselves, and allow your purpose to work itself out through us. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Savior and our friend. Amen.