We are in still in Exodus chapter one with our word for today. פֶּ֫רֶךְ violence, harshness, severity, tyranny, torment, excessive sternness. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament, 2 times in our chapter. We find our word used once in the context of the leaders of Israel in relation to their people. Ezekiel 34:1-2, 4 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock...You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and וּבְפָֽרֶךְbrutally. The rest of the 5 uses of our word are all in the context of a master slave relationship. Leviticus 25:43, 46 Do not rule over them בְּפָ֑רֶךְ ruthlessly, but fear your God… you must not rule over your fellow Israelites בְּפָֽרֶךְ ruthlessly. This is the same way our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 1:13-14 So they בְּפָֽרֶךְ ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they בְּפָֽרֶךְ ruthlessly made them work as slaves. We will talk more about this whole concept of slavery tomorrow when we look at that word. But for today notice that even in this context God does not condone treating another person in this brutal ruthless way. We also see this consistent teaching in the New Testament that God sees value in all people, loves them, cares for them and protects them regardless of whether they are a slave or a slave owner. Therefore, no one is to be treated in this brutal ruthless way. Ephesians 6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Jesus shows us God's heart is the opposite of brutal ruthlessness. He is the example of a good leader or shepherd Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Jesus will come near us and bind us up when we are hurting. And he will cup his hands around us so that are flame does not go out but instead grows brighter and stronger. I’ll close with this great passage. Psalm 34:17-18 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
