Let My People GoНамуна

‘Let my people go!’

Pharaoh did not understand what Moses was talking about or, rather, he feigned ignorance. ‘Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go”’ (Exodus 5:2). Pharaoh felt his view was based on a valid reason; he obtained free labour from the Israelites, so had no reason to listen to their God or let them go.

Just like Pharaoh, it can be hard to exit and leave a situation of slavery, trafficking, and exploitation.

God’s command to ‘Let my people go!’ shows his heart is for all of his people.

God saw the Israelites’ misery, he heard their cries and was concerned about their suffering. What happens to God’s people does not go unobserved by him. As individuals are experiencing situations of modern slavery and human trafficking, it does not go unobserved by him.

In John 10:10, we see Jesus explain his ministry to a group of religious leaders like this: ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ Just like the thief, situations of slavery, human trafficking, and exploitation steal, kill, and destroy the lives of those who are experiencing it.

Jesus, his life, and his sacrifice on the cross changes everything. He has come so that every person, even those experiencing modern slavery and human trafficking, may have life and have it to the full.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to stand with him in this, to pray and work to end situations of modern slavery and human trafficking all around the world.

Reflect on this:

How can situations of modern slavery and human trafficking steal, kill, and destroy?

What would it look like for a person experiencing modern slavery and human trafficking to ‘have life and have it to the full’?