Day Five -- "Let my people go . . . "

Exodus 1:1 to Exodus 15:18

There are many voices telling the stories in Exodus, and at times it can seem like they are patched together.  In a small example from today's reading we are told that a priest of Midian by the name of Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to be married to Moses (Exodus 2:16-21).  Then, a few verses later (Exodus 3:1) we are told that Moses is keeping the flock of this father-in-law Jethro.  A more extended example of different voices can be seen in Exodus 14:21--15:21 (ok, a read 3 more verses than assigned) where it is twice told that the Egyptian army were covered by the waters of the sea and drowned.  The first accounting ends with Moses and the Israelites singing an extended song, and the second ends with Miriam and the women singing a brief song while dancing and playing tambourines.

The compilation of the Book of Exodus may have resulted from a variety of voices and hands over time, but they have their common origin in the singular voice of the LORD who says over and over again, "Let my people go!"  Let my people go and worship me.  Let my people go and be free.  Let my people go and honor me with every moment of work and pleasure that fills the hours of their days.  Even in our own day, in A.D. 2012, there are those who are enslaved - literally and figuratively - by the oppression or actions of others.  Do we hear the call of God?  How might we participate in God's work like Moses?  Can we stand by as God cries out 'Let my people go.'

As you ponder those questions, and to end today's post with a musical treat, click on the following YouTube video.