The book of Exodus chronicles the beginning of the relationship between God and his covenant people, the Hebrews, later called Israelites. Although the book of Exodus tells of the departure from bondage in Egypt of the people who would become known as God’s chosen people, it is really a book about beginnings. The book of Exodus holds primary place in the Pentateuch because it tells about the escape from Egypt by the Israelites and the establishment of a new relationship with God emphasised by the beginning of Israelite religion.
I will be inviting us through this month of September beginning today, to reflect on several themes about God in the book of Exodus.
Today I am inviting us to reflect on God as the ultimate liberator.
Many scholars hold the view that the book of Exodus was written by no other than Moses because he not only led the people through the experiences outlined in the book but he was also well educated enough to be able to write about his experiences sometime before his death. Others hold the view that the Exodus was written anonymously many years after the people were settled in the Promised Land from historical records and even oral traditions. Either way what is certain is that Exodus chronicles the birth of Israel as a nation and its religion as the dominant monotheistic religion of the time.
In Exodus chapter (12) twelve which is our passage for reflection today the preparation for the departure of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt is described. The establishment of the Passover Feast or Feast of Unleavened Bread as it is sometimes called is also recorded. This feast or festival will from here onwards be commemorated through the centuries as the most important of all the feasts that were held because of its supreme importance to the people. It marked essentially the birth of a nation. We must take note that the killing and preparation of unblemished male lambs mirrored the Lamb of God who went to Calvary’s cross to liberate God’s people not from an oppressive nation but from sin. The shedding of the lamb’s blood would predate the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross for human sin. In this light, this passage from Exodus chapter twelve focuses our minds on God as liberator, the one who frees his people from slavery and oppression. A liberator is someone who sets free somebody else or someone who removes the condition of bondage or enslavement from someone else.
There are two important things to note here which could easily be overlooked.
First of all, the person or group that is in bondage or enslaved must participate in the process of liberation. They must show in some way that they are willing and ready to be free. They can do this by advocating for their freedom in different ways, some passively and some more actively. Here in the scripture the people needed to follow clear instructions about the meal they should prepare and how they should prepare it and the putting of blood on their door frames. I have no doubt that through the many years of captivity many Israelites showed their displeasure by rebelling in one way or another. In fact, the man who was now their leader became a fugitive because he also rebelled against the system by killing an Egyptian taskmaster. (See Exodus 2:11-14)
Secondly, they must remember and commemorate their liberation. This is as important as the process of liberation itself because it was crucial that future generations understood and appreciate the history of their people and in the case of the Israelites they would know that it was God who liberated them from their bondage. In this light verse fourteen (14) is the key verse in the text because it establishes the Passover as a festival to the Lord because it was God who liberated them. The verse says, “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord – a lasting ordinance.” (Exodus 12:14 NIV) In doing this they would be constantly reminded of the power of God to liberate his people from their bondage.
The message is just as true for us today as well. The people of African descent, like myself, commemorate the first (1st) of August each year as Emancipation Day marking the proclamation of emancipation from slavery for all black people in the colonies of the British Empire where slavery was in force. These were mainly in the Caribbean and southern parts of the United States of America with a smattering in other places. Slavery did not affect just Black people but other Indigenous peoples all over the world.
The message we can take from Exodus chapter twelve is in the reminder that many people are still in bondage. There are new and complex systems of bondage into which many people are forced to exist today. Much of this occurs through economic means as people are often forced to work in very unsafe and dehumanising conditions, not by choice but for survival. They may not have a literal whip over them but the systems that force them into these conditions are no different in their effect. There is human trafficking and sexual exploitation of marginalised people still taking place sometimes in more obvious places than one would believe. Many people are still psychologically in bondage from past experiences or even present experiences of trauma from different forms of abuse and violation of their basic human dignity and rights. Yes we do live in a world where many people are still in bondage or enslaved whether in their minds or they are subjected to oppressive and exploitative treatment from those who have power and influence over them. Yes, people are still in bondage of all kinds all over the world but the real message of the text is in the reminder to us that God is a liberating God. He led the Israelites to freedom from the Egyptians in dramatic fashion centuries ago and he is still liberating many people today.
We commemorate in the Holy Communion the greatest liberating act that humanity has ever known because we remember that Jesus shed his blood for human freedom from sin. Today, and every occasion that we meet to share in the Holy Communion, is effectively emancipation day, not only for marginalised and enslaved people but for all who know that they were freed from the power of sin. The key obligation that all persons who are aware that they have been released from bondage or captivity or enslavement has to God and to themselves is to acknowledge and commemorate, even celebrate your freedom. This is the same principle underlying Independence celebrations or commemorations in many countries. The principle is about recognising and acknowledging that something significant and life-changing happened for you and it must not be forgotten. Those who come after us must remember that they are beneficiaries of the freedom that our ancestors fought for and won. In the case of the Israelites and for us as Christians today we must always remember not just the fact that we are free but more so who gained us this liberation. We must constantly remember and acknowledge the presence of God among us as the one liberator who is still able to set people free today from whatever situation or from whichever person or system that still keeps them in bondage. Jesus himself in quoting from the book of Isaiah reminded the people of his day and wants to remind us today that he came, “…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…to release the oppressed…” (St. Luke 4:2 quoting Isaiah 61:1) Many of us are still in bondage perhaps not to an external force or person or structure or organisation but we are being held captive by our own selfishness, our own pride, our own greed, our own prejudices and all our own worldly priorities.
By the way things are, it is fair to say that the entire world is reflective of humanity that is still in bondage, much of it self-imposed by those things I just mentioned. Let me ask of us to think here and now how you and I might be in need of the liberating God who not only sets us free from sin but empowers us to live lives that show that we have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way we can be the light that lets the world know that through Jesus’ blood all can live in freedom. Let us go from here to acknowledge and show to the world what it is like to live as people who have been freed by the liberating God through the blood of Jesus our Savior and Lord. Amen.