In this vivid passage from Exodus, the Lord sternly warns His people
they shall… “not molest or oppress an alien…....
or wrong any widow or orphan” because, God reminds them, “they were once aliens in the land of Egypt”.
It is God who reminds the Israelites to keep this memory of the harsh
treatment they received at the hands of the Egyptians alive in their “collective
consciousness” so that they treat the weakest and most vulnerable members of
their society with the respect and dignity they deserve. God goes on to make
this pledge to them…. since the aliens, widows and orphans have no one to
protect them or defend them…. then, “If
ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surly hear their cry and my
wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword.” Wow!
Jesus makes it clear that the weak and vulnerable have a special place
in the Kingdom of God. By all that He says and does, Jesus reveals them to be a
“protected class of people” whom God will look after and see to it that they
are not harmed or exploited or left to fend for themselves…or else‼
Were these words that we read in Exodus only intended for the people of
antiquity or does the Lord speak to us and warn us to care for the aliens,
widows and orphans among us today? If we do sense that the Word of God speaks
to each and every generation, do we feel that we are insulated from God’s
promise to listen to their cries and to act on their behalf? Is God, right this
very moment, listening to the cries of the weak and vulnerable who are crying
out to Him…the father who has been out of work for the last 18 months and is
desperate for a job… those losing their homes to foreclosure, the children who
suffer the ravages of war, poverty and disease…. for those who live day to day
but can’t get to see a doctor because they have no money and no medical
insurance…. and for the aliens and immigrants among us today? Will God not
remember His promise? There are millions of our brothers and sisters who are
weak and vulnerable and in need of our help…in need of systems that are fair
and just and that recognize the dignity we all possess as children of God. How
should God act toward us if we fail to do what is right?
Let us offer this prayer today… that just for today we may do all within our power to help those in need
with a meal, a listening ear, some words of hope and encouragement, to be
agents of change for the good and well being of others. Just for today let us cooperate with the Lord by helping those who
cry out to Him. Just for today let us
seek to build the kingdom of God right where we live, work, and worship.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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