Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Exodus 5:10-23; Acts 7:30-34
Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.” He said, “You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.” --from Exodus 5
Courtney recently learned she is to be promoted from one job to another within her company. She already works countless hours and struggles to keep everything balanced. In her new position, her workload will be nearly double and the expectations high. As someone outside the company, I wonder how she will manage. Company leadership, however, considers it a lateral move with no change in status, benefits or pay. Twice the work, twice the expectations, no increase in pay. Why accept the new position? Because no one asked her. Courtney was simply told this would be her new role. Can she refuse? Nope. This is her job now; take it or leave it. Her way of life depends on her ability to ramp up her personal production. The task before her feels impossible, and she feels beaten before she even begins.
Under the rule of Pharoah in Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in much the same position. Pharoah felt the Israelites were lazy and were asking for time to worship God just to keep from working. His solution: provide them with no materials for their labor while expecting the same amount of production. Did he ask their opinion? Nope. This was their job now. They were already enduring a full day of brick making, but it takes straw to create bricks. Pharaoh wanted the same number of bricks every day, but he withdrew the resources and told them to gather their own straw. When the Israelites could not keep up the pace, they were physically beaten.
In the Book of Acts, Stephen recounts this story for the Pharisees, but he doesn’t stop with the bricks and goes on to describe continued injustice against God’s people. Stephen includes God’s response of speaking to Moses through a burning bush and promising that the people’s cries have been heard and they will be delivered from the wrongs inflicted on them. Stephen points out that God’s people have been unjustly treated throughout history. He speaks openly about how the Pharisees’ ancestors have been a large part of that discriminatory story, but he doesn’t stop there either. Stephen critically revisits the unfair treatment of Jesus through his betrayal, arrest, trial and sentencing to death. Stephen paid a steep price for his proclamations – he was physically beaten to death with stones.
Before he was stoned, though, Stephen went on to detail deliverance from sin and death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The story for God’s people never ends with injustice or even death. Our story continues for all of eternity!
During Lent, our goal is to remember the promises of our faithful God and return our hearts to living into that love. That’s our job now, and (rather than having it forced on us) we are invited into the work. Through our efforts of praying, fasting and giving, we are reconciled to God and our personal relationship with Jesus is enhanced. These are the ways in which injustice will be addressed, lives will be changed… and, ultimately, Courtney will be just fine.
Holy God, hear me when I cry out to you. When burdens are difficult and I feel beaten down, remind me of your promises and the victory that awaits me. Amen.
Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.” He said, “You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.” --from Exodus 5
Courtney recently learned she is to be promoted from one job to another within her company. She already works countless hours and struggles to keep everything balanced. In her new position, her workload will be nearly double and the expectations high. As someone outside the company, I wonder how she will manage. Company leadership, however, considers it a lateral move with no change in status, benefits or pay. Twice the work, twice the expectations, no increase in pay. Why accept the new position? Because no one asked her. Courtney was simply told this would be her new role. Can she refuse? Nope. This is her job now; take it or leave it. Her way of life depends on her ability to ramp up her personal production. The task before her feels impossible, and she feels beaten before she even begins.
Under the rule of Pharoah in Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in much the same position. Pharoah felt the Israelites were lazy and were asking for time to worship God just to keep from working. His solution: provide them with no materials for their labor while expecting the same amount of production. Did he ask their opinion? Nope. This was their job now. They were already enduring a full day of brick making, but it takes straw to create bricks. Pharaoh wanted the same number of bricks every day, but he withdrew the resources and told them to gather their own straw. When the Israelites could not keep up the pace, they were physically beaten.
In the Book of Acts, Stephen recounts this story for the Pharisees, but he doesn’t stop with the bricks and goes on to describe continued injustice against God’s people. Stephen includes God’s response of speaking to Moses through a burning bush and promising that the people’s cries have been heard and they will be delivered from the wrongs inflicted on them. Stephen points out that God’s people have been unjustly treated throughout history. He speaks openly about how the Pharisees’ ancestors have been a large part of that discriminatory story, but he doesn’t stop there either. Stephen critically revisits the unfair treatment of Jesus through his betrayal, arrest, trial and sentencing to death. Stephen paid a steep price for his proclamations – he was physically beaten to death with stones.
Before he was stoned, though, Stephen went on to detail deliverance from sin and death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The story for God’s people never ends with injustice or even death. Our story continues for all of eternity!
During Lent, our goal is to remember the promises of our faithful God and return our hearts to living into that love. That’s our job now, and (rather than having it forced on us) we are invited into the work. Through our efforts of praying, fasting and giving, we are reconciled to God and our personal relationship with Jesus is enhanced. These are the ways in which injustice will be addressed, lives will be changed… and, ultimately, Courtney will be just fine.
Holy God, hear me when I cry out to you. When burdens are difficult and I feel beaten down, remind me of your promises and the victory that awaits me. Amen.