Third Sunday of Lent
Exodus 3:1-15
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
Exodus 3:1-15
Exodus 3:1-15.
Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians …” (Exodus 3:7,8a)
When we think of the account of Moses before the burning bush we often focus on Moses and his response.
Moses, peacefully caring for his Father in Law’s sheep had his tranquillity disrupted by God’s instructions for him to lead His people from slavery in Egypt to a land of freedom.
The key words in this passage are not to do with the bush that burns and is not consumed, it is not how inadequate Moses may feel. The key message is that God has heard the cry of his people who are miserable and suffering in slavery in Egypt. The rest of the book of Exodus is about how those people were released, how they wandered in the wilderness and were eventually ready to enter the land of Canaan.
The important message is that God has heard the cry of his people and is to use Moses to lead them to freedom.
This was an important theme for the Israelites. We often overlook the introductory words from God when Moses later received the Ten Commandments: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,…” (Ex 20:2)
The point of all this for us is that God still hears the voices of those who are in slavery across the world, estimated at 46 million people across 167 countries. In addition, there are 160 million child labourers.
No 5 of the 10 Principles of Fair Trade is ‘No child labour. No forced labour’
The Fair Trade Association is committed to these 10 principles and works in cooperation with organisations like Be Slavery Free.
Reflection
In Exodus God heard the cry of His people. The question is, do we hear the cry and what steps are we taking to respond to that cry?
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Look at how we can take action through organisations such as Be Slavery Free https://beslaveryfree.com/
Prayer
Listening God,
You heard the cry of your people in slavery in Egypt.
You hear the cries of those in slavery and child workers in the world today.
Help us to hear those cries.
Give us the courage and wisdom to act.
Amen.
