DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: APRIL 22 OPPRESSOR AND THE WRATH OF GOD (2) SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 22: 21 – 24; Deut. 26: 6 – 8).

Yesterday’s devotional gave general layout of what the words “oppression and wrath” stand for. Today’s devotional goes straight to God’s stand against oppression. Our lead text pointed out God’s firm stand against those oppressing others. God said we are not to oppress anybody, not even strangers in our midst. We are warned against mistreating those under us. God in a clear term said: “If you do mistreat them, and they cry to me, I will hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword…” (Exod. 22: 23 – 24). What a clear warning! Reading through Deut. 26: 6 – 8 show us that the reason God dealt with the Egyptians “with a mighty hand and outstretched arm with great deeds of terror…” was how the Egyptians treated the Israelites harshly, humiliated them and laid on them hard labour.

The beloved, the two passages above prove good evidence that God hates oppressive attitudes towards people and does avenge the suffering of the people oppressed. Biblically speaking, actions that are interpreted “oppression” are too numerous to list. Any action from a well advantaged person against a disadvantaged individual is oppression. The well placed people who deliberately make lives difficult for the less privileged making them to sell their land and properties to raise money for feeding are oppressors. Government officials who over taxed the common people making them to mortgage their landed properties to pay off the taxes are oppressors. In many nations today, the disadvantaged people forced their daughters to marry so as to raise money to offset debts and taxes. The leaders deliberately create this to hold down the poor citizens. This is oppressive action. These are mentioned in Nehemiah 5: 1 – 13.

There are the rich and the wealthy people these days mistreating the poor under them, boasting that nothing can happen to them. These groups of people filled their mouths with cursing, deceit and oppression. Under their tongues are mischief and iniquity. They are seen in villages, towns and urban cities; hiding and ambushing innocent people and helpless ones to murder. These and related actions which pass for oppression are mentioned by the Psalmist in Psalms 10: 4 – 11. God’s wrath and natures of punishment for these people involve appropriate punishments and terrible deaths. This devotional warns individuals, governments and nations operating on oppressive attitudes to make a U-turn; as God is still enduring their wickedness.

PRAYER:

FATHER GOD, open the eyes of the oppressive people in our nation Nigeria to see the terrible punishments that are arranged waiting for them as this will give them change of heart in the name of Jesus Christ.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch