Thought Leaders Series: 2018
The key principle the Elders were trying to convey in their redaction of the oppression and deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt is centred around identity and nationhood.
Moses was primarily concerned about the welfare, safety and security of his people; even though in the long run other slaves benefited from his efforts. Some even left with the Israelites and were referred to as ‘mixed multitudes’.
In a pattern that is all too familiar with Old Testament, these ‘mixed multitudes’ or gentiles were later blamed for some of the challenges faced by the Elders, especially Moses.
That aside, all through history the oppressed have always been invisible. But Moses chose to identify with the pain and suffering of his people. He invested all he had, even risking his position, power and influence.
Unlike the biblical character Moses, I see people with means trying very hard to distance or disassociate themselves from the plight of their own. From the plight of those in the developing world. From the plight of migrants. From the plight of the working poor. From the plight of the unemployed.
Unlike the version the Elders convey in their narrative, our concern today should transcend race and national boundaries.
That said, we should also be aware that a large majority of people at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid are Africans and of African descent.
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