HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND CONCERNS IN THE BIBLE

[the following bible study lessons were facilitated on August 16 and T9, during SET '96, by Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumor. Ms. Rajkumar is a woman theologian and is currently doing her Ph.D. in Bangalore, India. The texts below were reconstructed from available notes token during the bible study sessions and edited by the ET, as such they are presented mainly in outline form.]

main texts: Exodus 1:8-12 and ff;

Exodus 5

supporting texts: Genesis 6; 2 Samuel 24;

I Chronicles 21; Isaiah 55;

Micah 4:2-4; Acts 17:6;

I Corinthians 14:34-35

major lessons and highlights

Introduction to the Session

Before we go into our main topic for today, let us first try to discover how people regard the Bible.

How do you regard the Bible? Do you simply open the Bible to any page and randomly look for a verse? Or open it, dose your eyes, let your fingers 'feel' the page, stop then say, "This is the message for me today"? And if by 'accident' you sequentially point to the texts which say, "Judas hanged himself," "go and do likewise," and "whatever you do, do it fast!" what are you to do? Let us keep in mind that the Bible is not a book of magic!

Is it a "proof text, i.e., a text of evidence, text for corroboration? For example, if somebody looks for texts or pointers on how women should behave or conduct themselves, and read the verses which say, "the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." How should they respond? Are they obligated to follow?

And if it is used as a book to tell us about our faith or who God is, how should we consider the following:

· the events in the story of the Great Flood: was the choosing of the animals (e.g., seven of every kind of clean animal, and two of every kind of unclean animal, and also seven of every kind of bird) all done in God's own hand?

· between the biblical stories presented in II Samuel 24 and I Chronicles 21 (both on the census of Israel): which story is correct? Was it God who incited David to take the census or was it Satan?

How then should we study, reflect and understand Biblical texts?

The Bible is God's words written by people who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the written record of the Word of God which came to prophets, apostles, and other spokespersons. While the prophets were God's primary spokespersons to the people of Israel in Old Testament times, priests and sages, or wise men, were other agents through whom God's will was made known. During the New Testament times, Jesus and the disciples were the main spokespersons. The teachings of many of these messengers are now preserved in the Bible. In addition, the Bible also records the response of those to whom the messages were given. But behind the writing lay periods of time when these messages were circulated in spoken form. The stories of ancestors were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth before they were written.

Another important thing to remember, however, is that messages in the Bible were not devoid of the historical and situational contexts in which they were made. It is full of stories of people which give meaning and relevance to the messages it contains.

Thus, in studying the Bible from a perspective of demonstrations and human rights violations, we need to read stories of peoples' hardships and oppression, and reflect on them with the aim of discovering God as a God of Justice.

Finally, let us remember that messages of the Bible are meant to inspire change. The Bible is dynamic; it transforms your whole life.

HR Violations during Israel's Captivity by the Egyptians

The texts reveal that the Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites because they were numerous and might ally themselves with Egypt's enemies if war breaks out (w. 9-10). Because of this fear, the Egyptian Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites. There were generally four strategies by which the oppression was carried out:

1. Pharaoh assigned slave masters to oppress them through forced labor. However, the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, (ch 1 w. 11-14)

2. Pharaoh secretly told the Hebrew midwives to kill infant boys during childbirth. But the midwives did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do because they feared God (w. 15-19). So the Pharaoh ordered his people to throw every boy that is bom into the Nile, but let every girl live—male infanticide (v. 22).

3. When Moses returned to Egypt with Aaron, they informed the Pharaoh that God wanted the Israelites to go to the desert and hold a feast. But since the Pharaoh did not recognize God and is suspicious of Moses and Aaron's real intentions (e.g., to organize the Israelites to rebel against Egypt), he did not allow the people to go. He instead increased the workers' oppression by cutting-off the supply of straw used in producing bricks, and ordered that they look for the raw materials themselves, (ch 5 w. 6-13)

4. Pharaoh pitted Israelites against Israelites. By appointing foremen from among the Israelites, he also initiated a divisive tactic. Since the foremen were tasked to make sure that the daily quota of bricks was produced, they may have forced the workers to look for more straw. Eventually, the workers complained and protested. When the foremen appealed to Pharaoh, he scolded them and sent them away with the same orders, (w. 15-19) Thus, when the foremen met Moses and Aaron, they were angry. They blamed Moses and Aaron for their hardships, (w.20-21)

From the story above, it seems that God was unconcerned with the suffering of the people. God's silence amidst the suffering does not support the view that God is a God of Justice. How could God have allowed the people to suffer? But was God really silent? (ch 3 v. 7) A lot of times, people think that God should act according to their standards (or schedule).

However, God's sense of time and urgency may not he the same as ours. What is important to have in mind is that God is always with us in our times of oppression. God knows our sufferings and will respond as a God of Justice (ch 6w. 1-8).