Oppression, unlike cheese, doesn’t get better with time. Engaging with the society, the tabloids, social media may sometimes feel like visiting Antarctica loaded with summer gear- the horror!
Oppression is the unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power at other people’s expense. It comes in many forms like land grabbing, bribery, that slithery manager harassing his junior, abuse, slavery, homelessness, etc.
Oppression isn’t just a pet peeve—it is a universal, overgrown prickly stem that entangles all of us when caught up.
Whoever loves money never has enough; Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:8,10.
How does oppression work?
Let’s take a dive in and see.
It works in the Bible the same way it works today: the self-proclaimed egoistic powerful take more for themselves at the expense of the weak:
- My muscle is bigger than yours syndrome: Violence is the crudest form of oppression. The powerful take what they want. Remember Cain, Joseph’s brothers, and Pharaoh? Think police brutality, corruption, assassinations, land grabbing, etc., today.
- I cough, you get to work syndrome: Coercion by keeping the weak in line for not pacifying the powerful. Pharaoh did this with the Israelites.
- The system is ours to define syndrome: The powerful to get away with things the weak would never be able to do through systemic injustice.
- I am a demigod-get down and worship me syndrome: Veneration by people who want to be treated like demigods. They become the root of everyone else’s power and get to define what goes in the territory under their control.
- You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours syndrome: The evil corrupt forces create systems to keep them in power inevitably.
Examples of oppressors in the Bible- they all fall down
- Jealous Cain kills Abel his brother. The violence quickly escalates even down to his descendants. Humanity becomes thoroughly evil- well, everyone, that is, except Noah. The oppressors die in a flood that washed away the violent civilization. God gave Noah and others a second chance.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
- Babylon became the icon of oppression in the world, in the Bible. The literal empire of Babylon doesn’t last forever- eventually the Persian king Cyrus overthrows Babylon and allows peace for the Israelites.
- The Egyptians worked the Israelites mercilessly under a severest of bondage- the mother definition oppression. God eventually delivered them out through the Exodus. The Egyptian oppressors suffer barbarously for their actions.
Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Ecclesiastes 7:7 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. (Ex 1:12). Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them.” Isaiah 30:12. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Have you ever felt beat down; oppressed by the world, by politics and social injustice, by illness, by money issues, or by something that weighs you down? Do not fret. Take it to the Lord in prayer- it helps.
Then Jesus says to you: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Matt 11:28. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! Psalm 72:4
Would You Like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior? Click here https://thelovetablet.com/2022/04/12/prayer-of-salvation/
