“以色列人因做苦工，就叹息哀求 … 神。神听见他们的哀声，… 也知道他们的苦情。” - 出 2:23-25
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（参看创世记 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，而最令他们最伤心哀恸的是，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？
祷告
亲爱的神，求你看一看，听一听世界各地正在受苦的人的叹息哀求。公义的神，求你顾念他们，又感动我们忠于你的呼召、并奉你的名采取行动。阿们！
出埃及记 1:1-14, 22; 2:23-25
1以色列的众子各带家眷和雅各一同来到埃及，他们的名字记在下面。
2有鲁本、西缅、利未、犹大、
3以萨迦、西布伦、便雅悯、
4但、拿弗他利、迦得、亚设。
5凡从雅各而生的，共有七十人。约瑟已经在埃及。
6约瑟和他的弟兄，并那一代的人都死了。
7以色列人生养众多，并且繁茂，极其强盛，满了那地。
8有不认识约瑟的新王起来，治理埃及，
9对他的百姓说：“看哪，这以色列民比我们还多，又比我们强盛。
10来吧，我们不如用巧计待他们，恐怕他们多起来，日后若遇什么争战的事，就联合我们的仇敌攻击我们，离开这地去了。”
11于是埃及人派督工的辖制他们，加重担苦害他们。他们为法老建造两座积货城，就是比东和兰塞。
12只是越发苦害他们，他们越发多起来，越发蔓延，埃及人就因以色列人愁烦。
13埃及人严严地使以色列人做工，
14使他们因做苦工觉得命苦。无论是和泥，是做砖，是做田间各样的工，在一切的工上都严严地待他们。
22法老吩咐他的众民说：“以色列人所生的男孩，你们都要丢在河里；一切的女孩，你们要存留她的性命。”
23过了多年，埃及王死了。以色列人因做苦工，就叹息哀求，他们的哀声达于神。
24神听见他们的哀声，就记念他与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的约。
25神看顾以色列人，也知道他们的苦情。
The God Who Hears
"The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out . . . to God. God heard their groaning and . . . was concerned about them." - Exodus 2:23-25
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?
Prayer
Dear God, see and hear the groaning of people who suffer everywhere in this world. Be concerned, righteous God, and move us to be faithful to your call to act in your name. Amen!
