THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The blessed prophets, who were deeply concerned about our spiritual well-being and who made sound judgments, prayed for the Word of God to serve as the helper and protector for those living on earth. They recognized Him alone, as the Almighty, as capable of saving those who had reached the lowest depths of despair. Acting as wise and discerning guides, they taught the path of salvation. What remarkable qualities did they not possess that warranted our admiration? Yet, despite their noble attributes, they could not free us from the oppressive rule of Satan or expel the wicked legions of demons that mercilessly tormented us, leaving us in a state akin to prisoners of war, burdened by the yoke of slavery, coerced into thinking and acting in ways that pleased them.
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Like ruthless tax collectors, these spirits demanded service, expecting the defilement of earthly pursuits, caring only for carnal desires.
Thus, it was a magnificent act of divine nature to shatter the prideful and despicable power of the devil, liberating those on earth from such harmful and vile bondage, ultimately transforming them into bearers of virtue. This great and longed-for good was presented in due time for the inhabitants of the earth when the Only Begotten willingly humbled Himself and embraced humanity (Philippians 2:7-8), as affirmed by Holy Scripture. It states, "After a long time, the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel groaned because of their labor, and their cry rose up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And God saw the children of Israel, and God took notice of them" (Exodus 2:23-25). The Egyptians oppressed the Israelites, imposing upon them the burden of forced labor, backed by cruel and heartless overseers who made their lives bitter through hard toil, as recorded (Exodus 1:14). Overwhelmed by such brutality, the Israelites wept and lamented, eventually beseeching for mercy from above. In response, God visited them, as noted: "God saw the children of Israel, and God took notice of them" (Exodus 2:25).
When we wander in ignorance of God, we become vulnerable to sin and suffer under the harsh control of unclean spirits. However, knowledge of God is followed by the gift of freedom. This transformative experience is imparted to us through Scripture, as noted (1 Corinthians 10:11). The experience of one nation, Israel, serves as a vivid lesson, demonstrating that the goal of unclean spirits and the devil is to ensnare those on earth in futile pursuits and lead them to engage in the works of the flesh. They aim to prevent individuals from gaining a free mind and rising to the divine, knowing the God of all creation, ultimately turning to that which is pleasing to Him and casting off the chains of slavery to the devil. Human nature inherently yearns for freedom; thus, we often reject passions that lead us astray, momentarily realizing the ugliness of carnal indulgence, seeking help from above and lamenting our involuntary servitude (Exodus 2:23). This, I believe, embodies the essence of the struggle of the children of Israel as they cried out to God.