Imagine being the victim of some senseless crime where the criminal injures you. You are constantly oppressed and there is no relief in sight. Then imagine someone who is supposed to protect you (say a parent or friend) just keep walking by without offering to help. Sadly, a lot of people have this view of God. They think he is off in the distance watching people suffer without offering any help.
But the Bible paints a very different picture. Remember, God is a God of revival. He rescues the oppressed, clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, and cares for the orphan and widow. Israel was under the yoke of brutal slavery in Egypt and they cried out to God. God heard their cries and he acted to rescue.
“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning and God remembered his covenant. . . ” (Exodus 2:23-24 ESV).
When God’s people cry out to him, he is not idle. God doesn’t ignore the cries of his people. He responds and rescues. The Israelites’ cry was the beginning of the Exodus story.
Photo by Camila Quintero Franco on Unsplash