Monday, February 15, 2016

Daily Devotion for Day 5 of Lent 2016

Scripture Reading: Exodus 5 (NRSV)

This is a classic example of systems resisting change.  Pharaoh is quite happy with the current arrangement and sees no need to change it.

In fact, when Moses suggests even three days off to observe a religious festival, the response is to increase their work load.

Savage Station, Virginia field hospital following a battle during
the Civil War showing that large scale change will
put up large scale resistance.
The taskmasters are beaten when they can't keep up with the new measures.

All of this puts pressure on Moses for the people to complain, "Why are you doing this?  We were better off than before you came!"

Change will take some more pressure at the top as we soon shall discover.

The reality is clear that some at the bottom on both sides will also pay the price for a change.

Is there anything you have ever put up with because it was easier to do nothing?

What systems have you been willing to endure rather than speak to because of the increased pressures you imagine you would face?

What if you believed that God lifts up the downtrodden - would this influence your response?




Photo by Gibson, James F., b. 1828, photographer. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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