He Hears Their Cry

 "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows."  Exodus 3:7

God is a God of mercy who hears the cry of the oppressed. These Hebrews were certainly oppressed as they built brick after brick after brick, to build the Egyptian empire.  He delivered those who were oppressed in Egypt and called them His people.  He chose them to be a people who would be his body, representing Himself to the rest of the world.  God commanded them to sabbath, to take a day off once a week to remind themselves that they aren't in Egypt anymore, and that their identity doesn't come from how many bricks you can produce and how big your empire can be.  Their significance comes from the God who rescued them, and the new life outside of exile that He offers.

Exodus means to deliver out of exile--deliverance.

These Hebrews quickly began to prosper after they were delivered out of Egypt.  They were at the height of their prosperity under the reign of Solomon.  But something happened.  Solomon's heart was turned away, and they began to create their own empire and began to oppress their own......slaves.

And God began to hear the cry of the oppressed once again.  His people hardened their hearts and they forgot He had delivered them out of Egypt--that world system of thinking.

They were commanded by God, "do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan....Do not deny justice to your poor people."

It's as if God is saying, "the deliverance you have experienced--go and make that happen for others who are oppressed."  But they didn't...

they forgot...

May we not forget we are blessed to be a blessing.  God's heart has not changed.