Let my people go!

שלח את־עמי

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר ייי אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ לִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

 Exodus 5:1

 

The history of the children of Jacob in Egypt is one that raises many questions. No so much about what is historical fact and what may be legends and historiography, rather how this literary work tells us the story of complacency. A group of elderly men with wives, children and grandchildren encounter a brother who they sold as slave, now a prominent Egyptian leader. The story is very emotional. My grandaunt told me that her father always cried when telling Yosef's story. Why? We would never know. There are many details in the story that can make us cry.

First, the Hebrew Yosef became fully assimilated to Egyptian culture and religion, while struggling to hold to the faith and traditions of his youth. Second, his siblings show up making things a little more difficult. You know the story: he “forgives” them and they live happily after. Well, not exactly. Instead of returning to the Land, which was understood to be the home promised to Abraham, they find themselves very comfortable in Egypt. Over four hundred years. By then, the Egyptian way of life was assimilated and the emancipation led them to slavery instead. The politicians of their days held prejudices against the Hebrews and similar groups. They became afraid that this people would become powerful due to their fast-growing population. Pharaoh attempted to stop them by committing a horrible crime against their children. The Hebrews have become slaves or servants to the aristocrats of Egypt. Their work was needed to sustain the life style of ancient Egypt. A story very similar to the experience of modern Jewish groups in Europe and of so many ethnic groups, immigrants, in the USA.

Attempting to become like everyone else led to becoming under worse circumstances. Yosef asked that his body be taken from Egypt when they leave. Apparently, he knew Egypt would become such an attractive place to live that his siblings would settle for some time, just as he did. Others claim Abraham knew of this and predicted the 400 years plus of slavery. Yes, slavery started as soon as they settled in Egypt. Perhaps, no as servants, but becoming slaves of their own desire to be just like the Egyptians.

Ancient Israel struggled with this desire or temptation then and now. After they settle in the Land with Yehoshua, they became a military power like anyone else. Later they want a king, followed by the king wanting a temple, like everyone else. They were never satisfied to be the people God wanted them to be. They wanted to be like everyone else.

Going back again into our story, Moses seems to be the first one to leave the ways of Egypt. In the wilderness the Almighty speaks to him and sent him back to bring Israel and others out of the way of life that led them to slavery. They were too comfortable and, in their comfort, never saw it coming until it was too late. There were those who did not want to leave Egypt and rather be slaves than free people to enjoy a little of the pleasures of Egypt.

The message to Pharaoh was an order to let the slaves free so they could celebrate in the wilderness. It was a call to justice. A call to the oppressors to stop oppression, and a call to the oppressed to wake up from their “comfort.” Now, after 400 years plus, there were other people in the Land. It would be a long walk from Goshen to Jerusalem (we are still walking). Modern political Zionism replaced the voice of God (Biblical Pacifist Zionism), and we are still attempting to be like everyone else.

The people of ancient Israel were not the greatest nation on Earth (Deuteronomy 7:7ff). However, it pleased God to choose them to make Israel a light to the nations.

אֲנִ֧י יי קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽ בְצֶ֖דֶק וְאַחְזֵ֣ק בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְאֶצׇּרְךָ֗ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ לִבְרִ֥ית עָ֖ם לְא֥וֹר גּוֹיִֽם׃

Isaiah 42:6

Israel is a unique nation because its unique God. Religious Zionism strives to listen to the divine voice, but again, they want to become like the others. Power and “comfort” led them and us to ignore who we are and what God wants us to be. We become slaves again of the ways of this world away from the Way of God, from the Way of Light into the halls of darkness. No, the story was not an allegory, but the historical tragedy experienced by our ancestors is today a spiritual tragedy often experienced as individuals and at times as a nation.

Regardless of the country where we live, we must strive to be a Light. True Zionism is a call to “Let my people go” from every nation and tongue to build a new world everywhere and now. We should not adopt the life styles corrupted by selfish desires. It is so painful to read the words of the prophet Isaiah (chapter 1); however, it is also afull of hope. It is a description of Modern Israel as it was ancient Israel. So many in our communities are still worshiping the golden idol. So many let their desire for money, power, and self-gratitude to fall into all type of immorality. Becoming slaves of their passions. They wanted to be like the other nations. Instead of becoming a Light to the nations we become entrapped and lost within the darkness of these nations. Like them, we trust militarism and financial power instead of God.

“Let my people go” is still a call to the powers of this world. “Let yourselves go free” although into the wilderness for a while, perhaps, but celebrating the festivals of the Lord in freedom. May God hear our voices today as we pray and make us free from the darkness in which we often find ourselves and make us again a Light to Israel and the nations.