THURSDAY 21ST MARCH 2019
Exodus 5:10-19 New International Version (NIV)
10 Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw.11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’” 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” 14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”
15 Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”
19 The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.”
The people of Israel suffered unnecessary brutality under the rule of Pharaoh. They slaved under his rule to produce bricks for buildings. Even though they were being productive to his benefit, he showed no mercy simply because of their demand to get time off to worship their God. Time off to do something that does not benefit Pharaoh. Do we treat our workers fairly? Do we consider their needs equally?
ALHAMISI TAREHE 21 MACHI
Kutoka 5:10-19
10 Hao wasimamizi wa watu na wanyapara wao wakatoka, wakasema na watu, wakanena, Farao asema hivi, Mimi siwapi majani.
11 Enendeni wenyewe, jipatieni majani hapo mtakapoyaona; kwa maana kazi yenu haitapunguzwa hata kidogo.
12 Basi hao watu wakatawanyika katika nchi yote ya Misri ili wapate kukusanya matakataka ya mashamba badala ya majani.
13 Wasimamizi wao wakawahimiza, wakisema, Timizeni kazi zenu, shughuli zenu za kila siku, kama wakati ule majani yalipokuwapo.
14 Na wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli, ambao wasimamizi wa Farao wamewaweka juu yao, wakapigwa, wakiambiwa, Kwa nini hamkutimiza kazi yenu jana na leo; kwa kufanya matofali kama hapo kwanza?
15 Basi wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakaenda, wakamlilia Farao, wakisema, Mbona umetutendea hivi, sisi watumwa wako?
16 Watumwa wako hawapewi majani, nao wanatuambia, Fanyeni matofali; na tazama, watumwa wako wapigwa; lakini kosa hilo ni la watu wako mwenyewe.
17 Akasema, Wavivu ninyi; wavivu; kwa ajili hii mwasema, Tupe ruhusa twende kumtolea Bwana dhabihu.
18 Basi, enendeni sasa, mkafanye kazi; kwa maana hamtapewa majani, na pamoja na hayo mtaleta hesabu ile ile ya matofali.
19 Basi wanyapara wa wana wa Israeli wakaona ya kwamba wa katika hali mbaya, walipoambiwa, Hamtapunguza hesabu ya matofali yenu hata kidogo; ndizo shughuli zenu za kila siku.
Watu wa Israeli walipata ukatili usio wa lazima chini ya utawala wa Farao. Walitumikishwa chini ya utawala wake kuzalisha matofali ya kujengea. Hata ingawa walikuwa wakifanya kazi kwa faida yake, hakuonyesha huruma kwa sababu tu ya ombi lao la kupawa muda wa kumwabudu Mungu wao. Jambo ambalo Farao aliona halina faida kwake. Je, tunawatendea wetu haki? Je! Tunazingatia mahitaji yao kwa usawa?
