Let My People Go 容我的百姓去

[Dexu Xia]

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.” Exodus 3:7

Today's Bible Reading: Exodus 3:1-10

Today's Insights

Moses’ burning bush experience (Exodus 3) involves what’s known as a theophany, “a theological term to refer to either a visible or auditory manifestation of God” (Evangelical Dictionary of Theology). The sight or sound grabs one’s attention, but the message is what’s paramount. God assured Moses: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people . . . . I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering” (v. 7). Another example of a theophany is when God appeared in fire and smoke at Mount Sinai (19:16-20).

Today's Devotional

The acclaimed painting Let My People Go by Aaron Douglas uses vibrant colors of lavender, green, and gold, along with traditional African imagery, to tell the biblical story of Moses and connect it with black Americans' struggle for freedom and justice.  The painting portrays God's appearance to Moses in a burning bush when He revealed that He'd seen the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. The artist uses a beam of light to symbolize God and His message, 'So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt' (Exodus 3:10).
In Let My People Go, Moses kneels in obedient submission to God's instructions, but the eye is drawn to the dark waves and horses trained for war surrounding him--reminding viewers of the struggles the Israelites would face as they left Egypt. But the beam of light shines brightly as a reminder that God would be with the Israelites.
The emotions evoked by the painting resonate because the struggle against injustice continues; many use their power to oppress men, women, and children around the world. As those who are suffering cry out for God to be "a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 9:9), we can plead with God to respond to their cries for help. And, like Moses, we can be willing to act on behalf of the oppressed.

Reflect & Pray

How might you pray for oppressed people? How might you learn more about caring for those suffering from injustice?

Heavenly Father, please make Your presence known to all those who suffer unjustly.

耶和华说，我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦，我实在看见了

（出埃及记3：7）

    今日读经：出埃及记3章1-10节

今日心得： 摩西遇见燃烧荆棘的经历（出埃及记 3）涉及到称之为“神显”的现象，这个神学术语，指上帝以可见或可听方式显现（福音派神学词典）。视觉或声音吸引人的注意力，但信息才是最重要的。上帝向摩西保证：“我实在看到了我百姓的痛苦，他们因受督工的辖制所发的哀声，我也听到了”（7节）。“神显”的另一个例子是上帝在西奈山的火和烟中显现（19:16-20）。

    今日灵修：亚伦·道格拉斯广受好评的画作《容我的百姓去》采用了鲜艳的淡紫色、绿色和金色，以及传统的非洲意象，讲述了摩西的圣经故事，并将其与美国黑人争取自由和正义的斗争联系起来。这幅画描绘了上帝在燃烧的灌木丛中向摩西显现的情景，当时他透露自己看到了以色列人在埃及的困境。艺术家用一束光来象征上帝及其信息，“故此，我要打发你去见法老，使你可以将我的百姓以色列人从埃及领出来”（出埃及记 3:10）。在《容我的百姓去》的画作中，摩西跪下顺从上帝的指示，但人们的目光被他周围的黑暗浪潮和训练有素的战马所吸引，它们在提醒观众，以色列人离开埃及时将面临的争战。但光束闪耀着光芒，提醒人们，上帝将与以色列人同在。

这幅画唤起的情感在许多人心里产生了共鸣，因为反对不公正的斗争仍在继续；许多人利用他们的权力压迫世界各地的男男女女和孩童。当那些受苦的人呼求上帝，作“受欺压之人的避难所，患难时的保障”（诗篇9:9）时，我们可以恳求上帝回应他们的求助。并且，像摩西一样，我们愿意为受压迫的人采取行动。

反思和祈祷

你会如何为受压迫的人祈祷？你如何才能更多地了解和照顾那些遭受不公正对待的人？

天父，请让所有遭受不公正对待的人知道你的存在。