| Brueggemann points out some aspects of departure that repeat themselves in biblical stories and - probably all stories of empires. Brueggemann notes that the story of Exodus has an impact for the ongoing story of departure at the time of Babylon.
The Exodus narrative of Exodus 1-15 no doubt continued to be edited and reshaped in the long traditioning process; and no doubt some of that continued editing occurred among the sixth-century deportees who are the subject of our study. But however the Exodus narrative reached its final form, clearly it gripped the imaginations of the sixth-century deportees. It became the master plot for those who viewed YHWH as the defining character in Israel's public history. All historical hope in ancient Israel was a retelling and a reperformance of that narrative. At the center of the narrative, moreover, is the bold, obedient act of departure, when the God who summoned to departure was embraced as stronger and more reliable than the gods (or the human agents) who sought to prevent departure.
We all need a story to help us move along with the stories of our lives. This is particularly true when we need to move in a new direction and we are not sure if we want to take the leap and begin again. When we can hear that others have made the journey and others have resisted and others have face death and still come out just fine, the next group is made bold to act. That is why we need these stories of liberation. All of need some help moving on along the way of faithfulness - even in times of oppression. Connection: I tried to come up with stories that I use from my past - or the past of others that have been told to me - to see how many I carry around with me. I realized that they are quite varied and the ones whose stories inspire me come from many times and place. They all help in different ways. You, O God, already have us moving in a new direction even when we are stuck in what is old and overwhelming. Within this day remind us again of stories of hopefulness and new life. Amen. |
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