Social Justice...

I've been reading through the Book of Exodus over the past few months. The Bible Is rich with stories and history that we can only appreciate as we move through it ourselves. Many of us know that Joseph was outcast to Egypt by his brothers and that he later became the second in command of the entire nation. And that he saved Egypt from a famine while also allowing God ti reconcile his anger and frustration with his brothers.

This is where Exodus begins. After Joseph's family, Hebrews, Moved to be with him in Egypt they multiplied. They grew rapidly and eventually we find out that they were enslaved and abused. Now, Moses comes along. I'll skip the story that was popularized by Disney and point out that Moses helped top lead the Israelites out of Egypt and out of Slavery.

However, I think that something bigger happened just after the exodus. Exodus is define as a going out of or a departure from something. The departure from Egypt is the most obvious part of this book, but the book doesn't end there. It goes on and it is after their departure from Egypt that God chooses to teach the Israelites to depart from their old way of life.

In the 22nd and 23rd chapters of Exodus The Lord gives instruction to Moses and the Israelites. he tells them,

"Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt."

"If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him."

Paraphrasing, " If you have a servant free him after he has served you for six years. You know what it's like to be a slave don't do the same things that we done to you."

"If you borrow your friend's donkey and it dies buy him a new one."

Put differently, God was saying "this is about community and getting away from empire." Living a life a life that is socially responsible is part of what followers of The Way are supposed to do. do lie, don't cheat, and if you do mess up try speak out and try to fix it. If you break something replace it because it's not about you. It's bigger than that. God didn't want these former slaves to remain as a captives to their old lives. And He doesn't want you to either.

Live responsibly. Take care of the people that surround you. Take care of the earth. It's not yours it's His. If you mess up be honest. If you break it fix it. Exodus is bigger than the end of physical slavery. It's about living a life that doesn't bind us. It's about living freely with one another.

- Blake Trent