I cherish the living tradition of wise reflections, questions, and interpretations that bring forward such nuance in the text - that expand scripture and ground it in experience. We can benefit from this library of commentaries and conversations that bring these grand theological claims embodied in epic into the lived experience of ourselves and our world.

In the Exodus story, we hear the proclamation that God is a god of liberation. Burning bush and Moses. “Let my people go.” 10 plagues. And then… out! Out from the city into the desert and to the water’s edge. Drop the staff and the waters part. We all pass through.

God is a god of liberation. Except, this may not be how the story always goes.

Liberation is a struggle. Whether the bondage that holds us is a set of physical chains or the disease of addiction, whether it is an oppressive society demanding we repress who we truly are or the fear of how we may be received once we reveal our true selves to friends and family, liberation is a struggle. Rarely is it all forward-moving. Rarely is it all linear.

So coming across works like The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan is a gift. In it, Rabbi Nathan tells a variation of the story of exodus. Connecting to the 10 trials of Abraham, he says that there were the 10 plagues and then the 10 miracles at the sea (we’ll get to another set of 10 on Sinai this coming Sunday). However, these miracles seem to come not as faithful demands intentionally paralleling an ancestor, but as a stalling tactic.

“We will not cross until the Sea appears to us as yawning holes.”

Ok. Moses waved the staff and the yawning holes appeared. “Rise and cross” he said to the people.

And then, another requirement.

“We will not cross until the Sea will become before us like a valley.”

Ok. Moses waved the staff and the valley appeared. “Rise and cross” he said to the people.

And then, another requirement.

On and on and on.

10 requirements. 10 miracles. 10 reasons to hesitate. 10 reasons to proceed.

Every requirement issued. Every demand fulfilled. Moses would reply, “Rise up and Cross” each time, and the people came forward with a new requirement. Until finally, they and the ground are prepared to move.

Liberation is like that.

Fits and starts. Ebb and flow. Back and forth. Round about and around again.

And what we might also glean from this beautiful epic is that not only is God a god of liberation, but God is a god of patience, grace, and presence.

God doesn’t just open the door and leave, nor does God run ahead and leave bread crumbs to find the way. God moves and flows with us - forward and backward, detour and return, rest and ready. God hears the cry of the people and responds. God understands the suffering of bondage and God understands the struggles of liberation. God remains steadfast and with us in and through it all.

Peace,

Rev. Chris McCreight

Manuscript and video for the sermon, “Liberation is Anything but Linear”

Link to The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan

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