Daily Readings - Mon Jul 17 2017
Exodus
8Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.9And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."11Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.13So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves14and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."
Sermon
The first reading from Exodus describes a time of great turmoil for the Israelites in Egypt. A new pharaoh, unaware of Joseph’s contributions to Egypt, views the growing Israelite population as a threat. To suppress them, he imposes harsh labor and decrees the murder of all Hebrew male infants by casting them into the Nile. This narrative sets the stage for the eventual deliverance of the Israelites, highlighting the tension between human oppression and God’s providence. It reminds us that even in darkness, God’s plan is at work, preparing the way for liberation.
This passage invites us to reflect on the human condition and the persistence of evil. The Egyptians’ fear of the Israelites leads to unjust policies, revealing how fear can distort judgment and lead to cruelty. Yet, amidst this suffering, the Israelites’ resilience and faith endure. Their story mirrors our own struggles with injustice and hardship, encouraging us to trust in God’s fidelity even when His ways seem hidden.
In our daily lives, we face our own forms of oppression—whether societal, personal, or spiritual. Like the Israelites, we are called to perseverance and hope. The reading reminds us that God’s plan often unfolds in ways we cannot see, and our trials can be the foundation for future grace. Let us pray for the courage to stand against injustice and for the faith to trust in God’s providence, even in the darkest of times.