The second thing I discovered--or rediscovered-- in this passage is a description of Moses conveying God's promise of release to the Israelites, but their inability to believe or trust in that promise.
"Moses told this [i.e., God's plan and promise for rescue] to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery." ~Exodus 6:9
Following Stephen's shrill denunciation of Israel's unfaithfulness in Thursday's Acts passage, this came as balm to my soul.
Of course, they didn't / couldn't believe. Their spirits were broken. Their hearts were broken. All they knew was the cruelty of slavery.
In this year that marks the four hundredth anniversary of slaves arriving in what was then called "the new world," the territory that would become the United States, Americans have a vivid picture of how long it takes communities to recover from the brokenness of spirit slavery creates-- especially if the slavers never, truly, let go their view of the slaves as irredeemably "other." Especially if the forces of racial supremacy cling to the notion that, in being made to end the practice of slavery, their
"rights" were denied. Especially if, in addition to clinging to the notion that the enslaved peoples were innately inferior, those who claim racial supremacy continue to be a force to create systems of oppression and inequality, and then blame the peoples they continue to oppress for the brokenness of their communities.
The brokenness flows from generation to generation, though the resilience of peoples who have been oppressed cannot be underestimated. Despite the continuing systems of oppression, those who have been oppressed continue to flourish and to distinguish themselves in every scholarly field, in every technological enterprise, in every art and science, in every kind of political endeavor, and as leaders who inspire both greatness and goodness. The scriptural narrative recognizes this, and gives it voice. It also promises the accompaniment of God along the stony path from broken spirit to freedom and abundant life.
No comments:
Post a Comment