Unrelenting Exploitation

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The week of the fifth Sunday in Lent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

10 So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, ‘Thus says Pharaoh, “I will not give you straw. 11Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.”‘ 12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw. 13The taskmasters were urgent, saying, ‘Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw.’

You will find the full text of today’s Hebrew Scripture reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 957)

AM Psalm [120], 121, 122, 123; PM Psalm 124, 125, 126, [127]

Exod. 5:1-6:1; 1 Cor. 14:20-33a,39-40; Mark 9:42-50

Today we celebrate the Feast of Joseph. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

Leander Keck’s comments about oppression came to mind as I reread today’s Old Testament lesson:

. . . no civilization has yet been built apart from exploitation of (people) man by (people) man. Our own rests on genocide against the Indians as much as on the Mayflower Compact, on the slavery of the Blacks and the exploitation of immigrants who came for freedom and found themselves in sweatshops.*

Today’s Old Testament reading presents us with an oppressor who turned up the pressure when the enslaved began pushing against his authority.  Because Moses persisted in asking for the release of the Hebrew slave laborers, the Egyptian king stopped providing the straw required to make bricks for his construction projects.  The Hebrews were held to the same daily quotas of bricks while being forced to forage for straw.

Keck’s comments also brought to mind the building practices I observed in one major city.  Hispanics, many of them illegals, were routinely hired as day laborers by builders and contractors.  These people gathered at pick up lots early each morning to be hired.  They worked for wages well below those paid union workers and with no benefits or security.

The builders and purchasers of buildings in that area reaped increased profits by paying low wages to these people.  And, the retailers benefited from the retail business these laborers brought to them.  However, the business community was uncomfortable with the high profile presence of these same people at pick up lots in their areas.  So, pressure was brought to bear, and the INS and local police effected a sting operation to arrest illegals and drive the pickup sites to less visible locations. Does this sound like another version of giving no straw for brick making, of increasing the oppressive pressure?

The God of the Hebrews responded by resisting the oppressors.  Plagues struck Egypt.  Ultimately, the oppressive king and his soldiers perished in the Sea of Reeds while pursuing their slave laborers and seeking to reenslave them. Throughout the history recorded in Hebrew Scripture, God resists those who oppress the weak and the powerless, those who played the role of the Egyptian king. The exodus from Egypt became a charter story regarding God’s response to oppressive power.

The early church heard that note in the teaching and practice of Jesus.  In the sayings and actions of Jesus preserved in the Gospels and in writings like The Epistle of James and the Book of Revelation, the church heralded the message of justice and mercy for the oppressed.  (See James 4; Luke 16; and Revelation 18, for example.)

The question for us goes something like this, “In what ways does our style of life make us complicit with those who oppress and take advantage of the powerless.”  A related question:  “What injustices are being worked in our community against the little, the despised and the powerless?”  And a third:  “What can we do and what can our church do to identify with those people and to better their lot?”  Better to identify with Moses and with God’s efforts to deliver than with the Egyptian king who denied straw for bricks.

* A Future for the Historical Jesus:  the Place of Jesus in Preaching and Theology (Nashville:  Abingdon, 1971), p. 159.

Collect of the Day, The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 219)

Collect for Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Lent

Almighty God, through the incarnate Word you have caused us to be born anew of an imperishable and eternal seed: Look with compassion upon those who are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant that they may be built as living stones into a spiritual temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, p. 61)

Today we celebrate the Feast of  Joseph, adoptive father of Jesus, according to Matt. 1:20-21.

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Joseph.htm

Collect of the Feast of Joseph

O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Peace

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)

All the Good I Can

Dear God, guide me to

Do all the good I can

By all means I can

In all ways I can

In all places I can

To all people I can

As long as I can.

Bill Pittman and  Lisa D., The 12 Step Prayer Book Volume 2:  More Twelve Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings Prayers  (Center City, MN:  Hazelden, 2007.)

A Prayer for Light

Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;  for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ,  Amen.  (BCP, 111)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Old Testament Reading, Exodus 5:1-6:1

5:1Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.”‘ 2But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.’

3 Then they said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword.’ 4But the king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!’ 5Pharaoh continued, ‘Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!’ 6That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors, 7‘You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, “Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.” 9Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words.’

10 So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, ‘Thus says Pharaoh, “I will not give you straw. 11Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.”‘ 12So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw. 13The taskmasters were urgent, saying, ‘Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw.’ 14And the supervisors of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, ‘Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?’

15 Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, ‘Why do you treat your servants like this? 16No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, “Make bricks!” Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.’ 17He said, ‘You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, “Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.” 18Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.’ 19The Israelite supervisors saw that they were in trouble when they were told, ‘You shall not lessen your daily number of bricks.’ 20As they left Pharaoh, they came upon Moses and Aaron who were waiting to meet them. 21They said to them, ‘The LORD look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his officials, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.’ 22Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me? 23Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people.’

6:1Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh: Indeed, by a mighty hand he will let them go; by a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land.’