在美國總統林肯解放黑奴，南軍已經投降的兩年半之後，德州仍不承認奴隸擁有人身自由。直到1865年6月19日，聯邦將軍戈登．格蘭傑（Gordon Granger）率軍進抵德州的加爾維斯頓島，並要求釋放所有被奴役的人。想像一下，當奴隸們身上的鎖銬斷開，這些被奴役的人們聽到獲得自由的宣告，是何等震驚和喜悦。

上帝看見受欺壓的人，祂最終會宣告受到不公義壓迫的人獲得自由，現在是這樣，摩西的時代也是如此。上帝在焚燒的荊棘叢中向摩西顯現，帶給他一個急迫的訊息：「我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦，我實在看見了」（出埃及記3章7節）。上帝不僅看見埃及對以色列人的暴行，還制定相應的計劃，祂說：「我下來是要救他們……領他們……到美好寬闊流奶與蜜之地」（8節）。上帝要宣告以色列民得自由，而摩西就是祂的代言人。上帝對祂的僕人摩西說：「我要打發你去見法老，使你可以將我的百姓以色列人從埃及領出來。」（10節）

雖然上帝安排的時間可能不會像我們希望的那麼快，但有一日祂將使我們得自由，脫離一切捆鎖與不公不義。上帝將盼望和自由帶給所有受壓迫的人！

President Abraham Lincoln had emancipated people held in slavery two-and-a half-years earlier and the Confederacy had surrendered, yet the state of Texas still hadn’t acknowledged the freedom of enslaved persons. However, on June 19, 1865, Union army general Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and demanded that all enslaved persons be released. Imagine the shock and joy as shackles fell off and those in bondage heard the pronouncement of freedom.

God sees the oppressed, and He’ll ultimately announce freedom for those under the weight of injustice. This is true now just as it was true in Moses’ day. God appeared to him from a burning bush with an urgent message: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt” (Exodus 3:7). He not only saw Egypt’s brutality against Israel—but He also planned to do something about it. “I have come down to rescue them,” God declared, “and to bring them . . . into a good and spacious land” (v. 8). He intended to declare freedom to Israel, and Moses would be the mouthpiece. “I am sending you to Pharaoh,” God told His servant, “to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (v. 10).

Though God’s timing may not happen as quickly as we hope, one day He’ll free us from all bondage and injustice. He gives hope and liberation to all who are oppressed.