Sunday, August 23 Worship Service

Last week in worship we heard the ending of Joseph’s story. Through all the struggles and deathly experiences of Joseph’s life, God had been with him – and in the end there was redemption and reconciliation. The Egyptian king, the Pharaoh, even respected and honored Joseph’s God. Now many years later a new king has risen who has no memory of Joseph’s God and Joseph’s descendants, the Hebrew people who have become numerous in Egypt. The pharoah – forgetful of God, and fearful of the “foreigners,” forces them into slavery. When powerful political leaders become forgetful of God and fearful of people they create oppressive structures. And God raises up courageous leaders to bring about God’s liberation. In Exodus, God raises up Moses; but first, God empowers two Egyptian midwives who refuse to follow the king’s rule, making way for God’s liberation. Here is the good news, as with the midwives and with Moses, God empowers us in the face of harm to bring God’s liberation.