Chapter 11 Rescue and ingratitude

A great rescue, but fear and grumbling

A leader commissioned, instructed
by the One-Source-of-all, who had said
he would care for and help those who asked,
teaching to heed and obey.

A sign-wonder immeasurable –
fire-unconsuming,
revealing his power, unique,
pure, and holy, unchangeable,
existing from always, Ruler divine
Revealer of truth, –
come now to rescue,
and save them from bonds.

No end or beginning,
he always has been, and ever will be,
existing the same,
both in nature and name.

Their Mighty-One-of-Faithful-Promise
cared and heard their groans and anguish,
sent requesting their release,
that their slavery must cease.

Many wonders, – warning sign,
but that king will not resign –
Mighty-Shepherd, hearing ‘No!’,
orders, ‘Let my people go!’

Warning wonders:
spirits of rebellion perform some bedazzling surprises,
but the Knower-of-mysteries alone is supreme
– his wonderful signs surpass, and restrain,
and can’t be prevented or thwarted.

Stubborn king preferred to dare,
would not believe, and did not care.
When suffering calamity, pleaded, promised freedom, –
promises he always broke, (mistaken ‘wisdom’),
resisting turning.

This stubborn, stiff-necked rebel’s foolish pride,
ignored, rejected warnings, truth denied,
and so a frightful punishment, divine-administered death,
was then applied.

[For those who heard, believed prophetic-word, –
a special mark to spread around each door,
symbolising life and substitution,
obedience for protection,
from the blow of life-cessation.]

A creature killed, its life-blood shed:
as substitute to die instead;
and teach of One to come ahead:

A greater One would die like this
to bring to many lives the kiss
of life, escape from well-earned wrath,
of him who made, and gave them breath:
sufficient, sacrificial death.

So the slave-masters sent them away
away to return to their land,
sent away in fear at the wrath and power
and command
of this Omnipotent Ruler who spoke his will,
and wanted his people returned to him still.

The human king regretted, pursued them in vain:
the people enslaved were redeemed, –
they passed through the waters,
that bounded the lands,
the waters drawn back,
but later released back to drown
pursuers rebellious, who hated, desiring
further enslavement and work.

Then journey through barrenness, time to be taught,
tested commitment, obedience true sought:
deceptive nostalgia, when things were quite tough,
distrust that their Rescuer would help them enough.

Don’t look behind through tinted glass,
and paint untruthful rosiness;
don’t look ahead in fear, and fret,
the Rescuer’s powerful love forget.

Don’t moan and groan, be quiet and wait,
stand firm, let muttering words abate.
Look up and think about the One,
whose power and mercy have been shown.

Move on as he directs, but do
not fear the things unknown to you.
A life of faith must always lean
upon the Guardian, though unseen.

Taught by symbols – pictures showing
how deep the problem had been growing.
Just as a shadow shows the presence,
of the substance that produced it,
so these symbol-signs foreshadow
grace substantial that will follow.
Sacrifices, rules for eating: –
these activities prompted thinking,
was their living clean to view?
and their failings did they rue?
was their worship real and true?

But his people grieved him much,
for their murmuring was such,
many did not enter in
promised land because of sin:
wanderings long ’til rebels had gone, –
grumblers had forfeited rest,
their children brought into the place,
the place of provision,
the place of instruction,
that pointed ahead to
a coming age, perfectly best,
when the sphere would be cleared
from the evils that now still infest.