God's Heart for Justiceናሙና

The Old Testament is the foundation for Christian faith. Without its images, concepts, and promises, we would not understand what Jesus achieves through his death and resurrection. No more so is this true than for the event we call the Exodus. Israel’s liberation from the tyranny of Egypt is the great “salvation-event” of the Old Testament. 

Yet we sometimes forget that this is God responding to the oppression of his people, both spiritual and physical. Exodus 6:5 speaks of God hearing the “groaning” of the Israelites as they languished under Pharaoh’s rule. As the theologian Chris Wright puts it:

This is what redemption looks like when God does it. It is an act that simultaneously demonstrates God’s faithfulness, justice, and love. (The Mission of God’s People).

Salvation involves God redeeming and restoring His image-bearers. First, that means God bringing us back to a relationship with Him. But following close by is that salvation means God bringing justice to His creation. Whenever God brings redemption the mighty are humbled and the lowly are lifted up. 

Reflection and Response:

1. Spend some time praising God for the fact that He listens to the groaning of His people, despite our rebellion against his rule. Perhaps you might like to sing or pray the song of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15. This song celebrates that God will always triumph over his enemies and that his reign will be established in all of creation.

2. Watch the video "The Faith of the Enslaved"