As an educator I just love teachable moments. I would like for you to take a few moments and read the following passages and then answer the questions below.
“So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers saying, “ you shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it… Let more work be laid on the men,- Exodus 5:6-9
“Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’ Exodus 5:10-11
“Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” Exo. 5:13
“Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today as before.” Exodus 5:14
But you are idle! Idle! Exo. 5:17
Questions;
- Can you think of any current situation in “real life and world context” that might be compared to the above passage?
- Who in your situation would be Pharaoh? Who would be the taskmasters and officers of the people?
- What symbolism would straw play in your comparison? What does the brick represent?
For further reflection:
- Suppose for a moment you were a servant in the above situation. But as a smart servant who saw this coming had laid aside a contingency of straw. How would you feel if Pharaoh criticized you for it? What if he tried to come and get it?
- Is it fair to give you more to do and less to do it with it? How would you respond if Pharaoh came up with a statute called the ”Persistently Low Producing Servant Act”. What about if each year the bottom 5% of all servants were put on this list?
- Do you think it would be fair for Pharaoh or his taskmasters to perform a two week quota audit for persistently low producing servants? What if they repeat it every two years?
Now consider the mathematical problem below.
There are three people who are on trains. Two are on a train headed south at 55 miles per hour and one is on a train headed north at 60 miles per hour. They are 150 miles apart. What city will they meet in? This really has nothing to do with the problem I am going to give you I just wanted to write a scenario like that. I never could get those. Now back to my question.
We have three people who are receiving $100 each. The total amount received is $300. Three more people show up (we didn’t expect them and have no clue where they came from but they are here). They too must be paid. Since there is no available funds save for the $300.00 we take $50.00 each from the three that previously received the $100 each. Now they receive $50.00. Your position is that the three who were making $100 and now $50 did not receive a cut. Defend this position!
-copied: Dr. Sam Dick, Superintendent. Caverna Independent
Tags: teachable moments
