Quote for reflection (Sunday, February 19, 2023)

“The Ten Commandments begin with the identification of the God who liberated Israel from Egypt. The word ‘Egypt’ refers to Pharoah, and Pharoah is the abusive, brutalising king of Egypt who practiced and exploited a concentration of power and wealth….They [the Ten Commandments] are rules for freedom and justice that contrast with the bondage and injustice of Pharoah. The covenant at Sinai is a warning that if you do not keep these commandments, you will be back in the grip of Pharoah and his insatiable demands. Thus, the Ten Commandments are strategies for staying emancipated once you get away from Pharoah.”

– Walter Bruggermann