| What goes around comes around in the world of empires and oppression. There can be no doubt, moreover, that pharaonic notions of exploitation, which fated individual persons to be submerged in and for state purposes, operated in Israel. Thus Pharaoh is reported to be the father-in-law to solomon (1 Kings3:1), and Solomon's policy of forced labor echos Egyptian practices. In Egypt's own imperial practice and in the derivative practice of Solomon, within Israel, the threat against Israel's distinctiveness has a socio-economic, political cast. The social practices enacted in the name of Egyptians gods are deeply antihuman, and in Israel's purview anti-Yahwistic, for the peculiar God of Israel intended a human community that does not exploit. The resistance Israel is to practice against this alien ideology that legitimates alien social practice is as paradigmatic as is the role of Pharaoh. That is, the way in which Israel resists Egypt is the characteristic way in which Israel will subsequently resist every aggressor empire Israel must resist the ways of oppression from which they were liberated. The Egypt story brings that into focus and it is to remain within their focus from generation to generation. So, you could say that passover not only tells of the liberation and redemption of Israel from Egypt, it also tells of the character that is to be among the people Israel. There is to be no brutality as was seen in the time of Solomon. Out of passover comes the need for the people to rise up and say we do not live like the powers of empire. We live within the counter community. Egypt may rule all things in the world but we will not be a part of this Egypt life. I find that it is necessary to apply such wonderful story telling to the actual situation in Israel today. If it is going to use this power story and use it as a way to point to their roots and what is to be there character, they need to look in the mirror (as all of us must do) and see what it is they see. There is no excuse for taking on the oppressive ways of empire when the the Lord God alone is God. Connection: The ways of empire are most likely the easiest ways to go as we find ourselves within a brutal world. And yet, we, along with Israel, must say not and listen again to the saving stories of our lives. That is a daily exercise. Brighten our way, O God, with the rule of justice and peace that comes within your Reign. Too often and too easily we walk away from this power and attempt to become something other than your beloved - abide with us. Amen. |
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