Dear Caldwell,
In 1951, the great southern novelist William Faulkner penned a story about sin and redemption titled Requiem for a Nun. It included one of Faulkner’s most famous lines, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” That truth describes more than how past sins can haunt us. It describes ancient patterns and practices in how the powerful keep their advantage over the weak.
Faulkner’s insight leaps out of the story of Exodus, which we are covering on Sundays this fall at Caldwell. Exodus is in part the story of how the all-powerful Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) went to any and every length to keep the children of Israel captive as his cheap labor force, building Egypt for the high and mighty.
But Pharaoh wasn’t defying just the children of Israel and their leader, Moses. Pharaoh was defying God, which is not a place one wants to be.
As Faulkner reminds us, there are still pharaohs today, corrupt, insecure, power-drunk, desperate leaders who seek to hold down the weak and oppressed through any means necessary, including deception and misdirection. But God is with God’s people now, just as with the children of Israel. The Pharaoh is often the last to realize he is on the wrong side of history – and on the wrong side of the God of justice.
With all of that in mind, take a look at Exodus Chapter 5 this week in preparation for Sunday.
In the meantime, we rejoice that Jenni and Devin Reeves-Anderson went home on Monday (their wedding anniversary) with new son, Carter. We rejoice also with members Meredith Johnson and Kate Edwards, who will be married this Saturday.
We are keeping many other situations and appeals for healing in prayer this week, including that of our nation. Keep Gail in prayer as she takes her last ordination exam! Don’t forget that we will hold a brief Congregational Meeting Sunday to form the committee that will seek God’s guidance to fill five seats on the Caldwell Session (board of elders).
Watch for Caldwell This Week with all the details.
In Christ,
John