One More Vote Against Evil: A Call to Action

Oct 26, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God Hears the Cries of the Oppressed

God is not distant from the suffering of His people; He listens intently to the cries of those who are oppressed, grieves at their pain, and is moved to act on their behalf. The suffering of the Israelites in Egypt was not a natural disaster but the result of structural injustice and public sin, and God’s holy attention to their plight reveals His heart for justice and liberation. Even today, God hears the cries rising from homes, classrooms, hospital rooms, borders, and streets—wherever people are marginalized and hurting. The call is not just to remember an ancient story, but to recognize that God’s compassion and attention are active in our world now, seeking those who will respond to the suffering around them. [54:24]

Exodus 3:9-10 (NRSV)
“The cry of the Israelites has now come to me. I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

Reflection: Where in your community do you hear the cries of those who are suffering, and how might you open your heart to truly listen and respond?

Day 2: God Calls Ordinary People to Extraordinary Purpose

God’s response to injustice is not just to listen, but to send—often choosing those who feel unqualified or who have tried to escape the pain of their past. Moses was not called because he was perfect, but because he was present and willing to turn aside and pay attention to God’s call. Even in exile, God interrupted Moses’ quiet life, showing that no detour is beyond God’s reach. In the same way, God seeks out people today—those who may feel their season is over, who have settled for comfort, or who doubt their significance—to become agents of liberation and justice in their generation. [56:25]

Exodus 3:1-4 (NRSV)
“Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’”

Reflection: What area of your life have you considered a detour or escape, and how might God be calling you to turn aside and pay attention to His purpose for you there?

Day 3: Small Acts of Faithfulness Ignite Movements of Justice

The power of faith is not measured by its size, but by its persistence and willingness to act, even in small ways. Every act of care, every word of truth, every prayer, and every vote are seeds in the garden of God’s justice. History often turns on the small hinges of conviction—one teacher telling the truth, one organizer registering voters, one elder deciding to pray. When these small acts converge, they ignite a fire that cannot be quenched by laws or pharaohs, but spreads across hearts, cities, and generations, fueling movements for freedom and justice. [01:16:19]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Reflection: What is one small, faithful action you can take today—no matter how insignificant it may seem—to advance justice or care for someone in need?

Day 4: Voting as a Sacred Act of Remembrance and Resistance

Voting is not only a civic duty but a sacred act that testifies to the image of God in every person and the conviction that no one is expendable in God’s kingdom. Each ballot cast is a response to God’s question, “Who will I send?” and a declaration that every voice matters. In times when the right to vote is under threat and systems seek to silence the vulnerable, participating in the democratic process becomes an act of remembrance for those who struggled before us and an act of resistance against injustice today. [01:11:36]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Reflection: As you consider the privilege and responsibility of voting, how can you encourage someone else—especially someone who feels their voice doesn’t matter—to participate in this sacred act?

Day 5: Deliverance Is Always Connected to Duty

God’s deliverance is never detached from our responsibility; resurrection comes with the call to act, to speak, and to move in faith. The world is balanced on the scales of good and evil, and each act—no matter how small—can tip the balance toward justice and freedom. The fire of God’s Spirit is still burning, waiting for hearts to catch flame and for lives to be set ablaze with courage and conviction. Our calling is not just to admire the courage of those who came before us, but to embody it in our own time, trusting that one more act, one more vote, one more step of faith can ignite a movement that changes the world. [01:18:22]

James 2:17 (ESV)
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can connect your faith to action this week, allowing your belief to move you toward responsibility and justice in your community?

Sermon Summary

In a world marked by crisis, injustice, and suffering, God continues to call ordinary people to extraordinary acts of faith and courage. The story of Moses in Exodus 3 reminds us that God hears the cries of the oppressed and responds not with distant sympathy, but with a divine summons to action. God’s attention to suffering is not passive; it is the beginning of a movement, a revolution of compassion and justice. Moses, though he tried to escape his past and settle into a life of comfort, could not outrun the call of God. Even in exile, God interrupted his peace so that others might find theirs. This is a pattern repeated throughout history: God seeks willing hearts to stand in the gap, to be the answer to the prayers of the suffering.

The call to “one more vote against evil” is not just about ballots or political engagement, but about every act of faithfulness that resists injustice and affirms the dignity of God’s children. The struggles of the Israelites under Pharaoh mirror the struggles of the vulnerable today—children separated from families, workers exploited, communities silenced, and the poor neglected. God’s response is to send people—imperfect, hesitant, but present—to confront the powers that be and to embody hope in action.

Throughout history, it has been the persistent, often unseen acts of ordinary people that have shifted the course of justice. From civil rights leaders to unsung organizers, each “one more vote” has been a seed in the garden of God’s justice. The work of liberation is not only in grand gestures but in the steady, faithful labor of those who refuse to accept evil as inevitable. Today, as we face our own Red Seas—political, social, and spiritual—we are called to be faithful, to cast our votes, to speak truth, and to act with courage. The fire of God’s justice still burns, waiting for each of us to add our spark. The world is balanced on the scales of good and evil, and our next act—no matter how small—can tip the balance toward justice, freedom, and the kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s response to suffering always begins with attentive listening, but it never ends there. Divine compassion turns into a call for action, inviting us to become the answer to the prayers of the oppressed. Our willingness to be interrupted by God’s call is often the first step toward liberation for ourselves and others. [54:24]
2. The evils we confront are not merely personal failings or natural disasters, but often structural injustices embedded in public policy and culture. Recognizing this challenges us to move beyond charity to prophetic action, confronting systems that perpetuate suffering and refusing to accept them as normal. [55:43]
3. God does not require perfection, but presence and faithfulness. Moses was not chosen because he was flawless, but because he was willing to turn aside and pay attention. Our small acts of care, truth, and resistance—though they may seem insignificant—are the hinges on which history turns and the seeds from which God’s justice grows. [63:53]
4. The legacy of freedom is built not only by famous leaders, but by countless unnamed individuals whose persistent, quiet faithfulness made liberation possible. We honor their memory not by admiration alone, but by embodying their courage and commitment in our own time, believing that one more act, one more vote, can change a nation. [67:05]
5. Voting is both a civic duty and a sacred act of resistance and remembrance. Each ballot cast is a testimony to the image of God in every person and a refusal to let evil have the last word. In moments when democracy is threatened, our participation becomes a prophetic answer to God’s question: “Who will I send?” [01:11:36]
** [71:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[46:49] - Opening Prayer and Invocation
[47:32] - Introduction to the Series: The Role of the Church in Crisis
[48:12] - Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:9-10
[48:58] - God Hears the Cry of the Oppressed
[49:42] - Reflecting on “One More Vote”
[50:21] - Encounter with Marian Wright Edelman
[51:44] - The Moral Weight of One More Vote
[53:04] - The Call to Stand Against Evil
[54:24] - God’s Response Begins with Listening
[55:43] - Structural Injustice and Public Sin
[56:25] - Moses’ Detour and God’s Interruption
[57:44] - God Calls the Comfortable to Confrontation
[59:02] - Modern Echoes of Ancient Cries
[63:53] - The Power of Small Acts of Faith
[67:05] - The Unsung Heroes of Liberation
[68:24] - The Urgency of Voting Today
[71:36] - Voting as Sacred Resistance
[74:53] - The Fire of Faithful Action
[77:42] - The Call to Ignite the Fire
[78:22] - Conclusion: Tipping the Scales Toward Justice

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "One More Vote Against Evil"

Bible Reading

Exodus 3:9-10 (ESV)
> “And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Observation Questions

According to Exodus 3:9-10, what does God say he has both heard and seen regarding the Israelites?
In the sermon, what are some modern examples given of the “cries” that God hears today? [[59:02]]
What was Moses doing when God interrupted his life, and how did God get his attention? [[56:25]]
The sermon mentions that the evils faced by the Israelites were not natural disasters but “structural injustice.” What does this mean in the context of Exodus 3 and the sermon? [[55:43]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chooses to respond to suffering by sending people like Moses, rather than acting alone? [[54:24]]
The sermon says, “God does not require perfection, but presence and faithfulness.” What does this suggest about the kind of people God uses for his purposes? [[01:03:53]]
How does the idea of “one more vote against evil” go beyond just political voting, according to the sermon? [[51:44]]
The sermon draws parallels between the oppression in Egypt and injustices today. What are some ways these parallels challenge our understanding of what it means to follow God? [[59:02]]

Application Questions

The sermon says God’s response to suffering begins with listening but never ends there. Is there a situation in your life or community where you feel God is calling you to move from compassion to action? What might that first step look like? [[54:24]]
Moses tried to settle into a comfortable life, but God interrupted him for the sake of others. Are there areas where you have chosen comfort over calling? How might God be trying to interrupt your routine for a greater purpose? [[56:25]]
The sermon talks about “structural injustice” and not accepting evil as normal. Is there a system or policy in your city, workplace, or school that you feel is unjust? What is one small but concrete action you could take to resist or challenge it? [[55:43]]
The legacy of freedom is built by countless unnamed individuals. Who are some “unsung heroes” in your life or community who have quietly made a difference? How can you honor or join them in their work? [[01:07:05]]
The sermon says voting is both a civic duty and a sacred act. If you are eligible, how do you approach voting? If you’re not eligible, what are other ways you can “cast a vote” for justice in your daily life? [[01:11:36]]
The world is “balanced on the scales of good and evil,” and our next act can tip the balance. What is one small act of faith, truth, or resistance you can commit to this week? [[01:18:22]]
The sermon mentions that God still speaks through the “burning issues of our day.” What is one issue that sets your heart on fire, and how can you respond to it with courage and faithfulness? [[01:14:53]]

Sermon Clips

“And can I tell you that sentence has stuck with me ever since be because it captures what every generation of people of faith has been called to do generation after generation. To stand between the vulnerable and the violent power of the day. To speak truth from power. To push one more act of faith. One more act of truth. One more act of compassion. One more vote against evil.”

“And now, church, in this moral moment, amidst shutdowns and suffering, chaos and confusion across the land, amidst the redrawing of maps to silence communities. Holla, if you hear me this morning, we find ourselves too trying to get one more vote against evil.”

“The text begins with a cry. It begins with the petitions of the people. God hears the cries of the people. God grieavves at the oppression and displacement of God's people. God has seen children separated from their families. God has seen the inhumane conditions, the working conditions of children. God has heard the snap of flesh ripping lashes on the brown and black backs of Israelite laborers. God has heard the cries of liberation from a distressed, distressed, and displaced people.”

“This is not a natural tragedy that they're experiencing. Enslavement is not a natural disaster. The genocide of infant boys is not a natural tragedy. But they are dealing with structural injustice. They are dealing with suffering that comes from public sin ingrained in public policy.”

“God listens before God sends. God's response to injustice always begins with holy attention to the suffering. And that attention must turn into a divine assignment for the people of God.”

“But can I tell you something, church? Can I tell you something? That even in exile, God will not leave Moses alone. That the cries that rise from Egypt find a way to enter into the silence of Moses's new life. A bush catches fire in the text and it refuses to go out until Moses looks again until Moses stops and recognizes what's wholly happening in front of him. God interrupts Moses.”

“Because every generation must decide whether it will merely survive in Midian or return to confront Pharaoh in Egypt. [Applause] And the text tells us something powerful this morning that God still hears. God is still listening. And when God hears the cries of God's people, God is still sending prophets to answer the call.”

“This is not an ancient story for us to simply reflect on and ruminate on, but this is a mandate for us to listen to and respond to today. The cries of the people have not ceased. They rise from homes where the refrigerator is empty because of a government's shutdown that's frozen snap and wick benefits.”

“The cries rise from classrooms where teachers are paying for supplies out of their own pockets because the Department of Education has been gutted. They rise from hospital rooms where elders are choosing between prescriptions and groceries, stripped of adequate insurance by the greed of corporations that treat sickness as a business.”

“When the text says, "The cry of the Israelites has come to me," it's not only about ancient Egypt, friends, but this is about every nation, every people that hears the groaning of the poor and yet they refuse to change. They refuse to transform. It's about every system that sees suffering and calls it acceptable.”

“God has heard the cries. God still hears the cries and God is still looking for someone willing to go. See, in the text, Pharaoh enslaved the people to build his economy. But in our time, millions are locked in prisons and low-wage jobs that keep the economy strong. But the people broken.”

“I want you to hear me. The power of faith is not in its size, but in its persistence. The songwriter says, "Faith is the victory. God doesn't ask you to change the world by yourself. God asked you to be faithful in your corner of the world and change that. Moses was not called to be to to to be perfect, nor was he called because he was perfect. But he was called because he was present. He was chosen. And let me tell you something, God did not always call the qualified, but God always qualifies those who are called.”

“Every act of care, every word of truth, every prayer you whisper to the cosmos, every vote you cast, these are seeds in the garden of God's justice. [Applause] It may seem small. It may seem insignificant, but when heaven and earth conspire around them, they grow into a garden of deliverance.”

“Their names may never make it to the textbooks, but their fingerprints are all over our democracy. And they remind us that the work of freedom is not only found in marches, but it's also in the meeting. Not only in the speeches, but it's also in the steady labor of preparation that goes when the people of God come together to conspire for liberation.”

“Voting is a civic duty. Yes. And voting is also a sacred act of remembrance and resistance. Voting is our voice in the public square. Every time we go to the polls, we testify that God's image lives in every voter. That no one is expendable in the kingdom of God.”

“Faith doesn't just follow, but it talks. It it moves and it acts. You may not believe that your small actions matter today. You may believe that it's just a toss away, but history has always turned on the hinges of courage and conviction. They're not always big hinges, but sometimes history swings on those small hinges of our conviction. The single act of conscience that changed the course of a nation.”

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