Day 8: Praying for the exploited

By Gia Hughes

LIA Director of Human Trafficking Outreach

Read Exodus 1-12 this week.
Use these scriptures to fuel your prayers as you pray for those who are exploiting the vulnerable.

When we think of exploiting the vulnerable, or trafficking, our minds automatically envision images of children who are violated and misused at the hands of a deranged individual or group of individuals. Sex trafficking, for any age victim, is a horrendous crime and needs our utmost attention. It is where my heart is. But there is another form of trafficking that is prevalent in our world today with an estimated 21 million victims. It is labor trafficking. Called a modern-day form of slavery, labor trafficking is a violation of human rights.

Labor trafficking is defined as: “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.” According to new International Labor Organization estimates, three out of every 1,000 people worldwide are trapped in jobs into which they cannot leave.

In the first chapters of Exodus, the people of Israel are being held captive and forced into ruthless labor practices for the gain of their oppressors. It is too impossible of a task with the means that they are given, they can’t physically endure. The oppressors of today are much the same. They offer opportunities for a better job and life, but realistically, the victims get neither. Many are transported across international lines only hoping to gain what they are promised, yet are forced into subhuman standards to work long and hard hours. They are asked to pay large sums of money, keeping them financially indebted, just to have this opportunity. They are sometimes threatened and beaten to maintain their loyalty.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” - Matthew 5:44

Just like for the victims, we must pray for the oppressors. We must cry out against their thoughts and actions to our God who hears. We must pray without ceasing! We know time after time that prayer works and that lives are changed!

Go here https://www.facebook.com/lia.ministries to read about how our awesome God is changing the hearts of the military oppressors in the Philippines through Love In Action International Ministries.

Blessings!