阅读经文 

以色列民是旧约圣经中神的子民，他们被拣选，成为一个被神使用来赐福给万民的民族。（参创 12:1-3）可是，正如我们在出埃及记最初几章看到的景象，神的子民正陷在困境中，以色列人在埃及沦为奴隶。他们因此不能照神所应许的成为别人的祝福。

埃及王惧怕以色列人，因为他们的人数有可能对埃及国家造成威胁。于是逼迫他们过着难以忍受的生活，以致百姓在奴役和痛苦中发出哀声，而最令他们伤心哀恸的是，他们当中很多男婴被杀害了。这是多么大的打击，何等地令人绝望啊！

然而，在似乎长时间隐身之后，神终于垂听百姓的哀声，并且采取行动，要来带给他们自由。这不是一件唾手可得或即刻实现的事，然而它却是关键性的，它能够拯救那些正在受苦的神的子民。

我们在下一章圣经中看见，神施怜悯准备帮助受欺压的人时，祂走出的第一步竟然是呼召一个人——摩西，代表祂来施展祂的大能。你说这是不是有些出人意外呢？

The Israelites were the Old Testament people of God, chosen to become a nation through whom God would bless all other peoples (see Genesis 12:1-3). But, as we can see in the opening chapters of Exodus, God’s chosen people were in a bad way. The people of Israel had become slaves in Egypt. And in this way, they were not able to be the blessing to others that God had promised.

The king of Egypt feared the Israelites because their numbers were a potential threat to his domain. So he made life unbearable for them until the people cried out in their slavery and suffering. Some of the deepest weeping happened because many baby boys were murdered. What trauma and hopelessness!

But finally, after seeming to be absent for a long time, God heard the people’s groaning and acted to bring them freedom. It wouldn’t be easy or quick, but it would be decisive and provide rescue for God’s suffering people.

And isn’t it startling, as we find in the next chapter, that while God was moved to help the oppressed, his first move was to call a human being, Moses, to be the agent of his liberating power?