Category: Exodus

Exodus 19:2-8 - Lectionary for Pentecost 2A

6/13/2017

6/13/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Old Testament reading from Exodus 19:2-8 points out human fallibility. In the passage, God makes tremendous promises to his people. They have seen his power to rescue them from slavery. They know that he is the one who can accomplish whatever he wants. They know that he cares for them.

God’s promise is tied to a requirement. If the people follow his word, he will consider Israel his special people. They will have an inheritance. They will be favored above all the nations. They will be a kingdom of priests. This is a tremendous promise! In exchange, they are to hear God’s voice and obey his commands. All his commands lead to living an orderly life in a well ordered society.

The people of Israel agree immediately. The promise is truly wonderful. Yet we will see that they are quick to depart from their obligation. They hear their own voice instead of God’s voice. They obey their own desires rather than God’s desires. This will bring ruin upon the nation of Israel.

In these last days, we are told in the New Testament, Jesus has kept the command of God. He has then offered that his obedience can be counted to the credit of all who believe him. As a result, all who trust Jesus are partakers of the promise God made to Israel. This is the good news we have for this generation and for every age. Thanks be to God for raising up someone who could keep His commands.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

0 Comments

Exodus 17:1-7 - Lectionary for Lent 3A

3/14/2017

0 Comments

3/14/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Old Testament reading for this week is from Exodus chapter 17. In these first 17 verses we are told of one a very sad situation. God’s people have been rescued from Egypt. They have seen that God can move the people of Egypt to give them many fine gifts and send them away. They have seen that God could bring the entire nation of Israel through the waters on dry ground. They have seen the armies of Egypt drowned by the waters which parted for Israel. They then realize that they will need provision in the wilderness on their journey to the land of promise.

Looking back we would expect to trust in God. We would think that it would be relatively simple. Surely the God who promised to take us back to the place he promised our nation, and who loaded us down with riches, brought us across a body of water, and destroyed our enemies, would be able to provide us with what we need to make it across the desert in front of us. It makes perfect sense.

We forget one important thing. In times of trial we are not going to use good sense. We are going to trust our own capabilities, but we are unlikely to have a well reasoned view of our situation or of what we are able to do. When confronted with a new situation we don’t know what to do. Here the people are facing yet another hostile environment. If they were confronted by a soldier from Egypt, they would at least be able to fight back. Nobody can fight to make water appear in a desert. We don’t have the capacity to do anything in this situation.

What does God do? He provides water. He does it through his servant Moses, in plain view of the elders of Israel. The people are cared for. They know it is by God’s mercy. Yet the location is given a name indicating the strife brought on by the people’s distrust.

Even when we see God’s provision we often fail to give thanks to God. We trust only ourselves, and that trust has limits as well. Thanks be to God, he remains able to accomplish exactly what we need.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

0 Comments

Exodus 24:8-18 - Lectionary for Transfiguration, Cycle A

2/21/2017

0 Comments

2/21/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Old Testament reading for Transfiguration, Exodus 24:8-18, God calls Moses and the elders of Israel to enter into his presence. He later calls Moses farther up the mountain to receive commands.

The presence of God is a frightful thing. When the elders of Israel are in the presence of God, he is astounding to them. notice that Moses says God did not lay a hand on the elders. He appeared in his mercy.

When God calls Moses up into his presence, his appearance is truly terrifying. He is in unapproachable light. He hides himself for the protection of his people. He also appoints people to resolve disputes while Moses is gone.

It is telling that God appoints a means of dispute resolution while he is giving his Law through Moses. The people will need it. Even at the foot of God’s mountain, we are ready to engage in our own quarrels, our disputes, our petty disagreements. We want our own way. And we want it now.

Thanks be to God that he speaks to his people. We receive his laws, which are for our good. We receive his protective hand. He distances himself from us so his glory will not destroy us. He provides a mediator. Moses, then, but now, in these last days, Jesus, who declares God to us.

May the Lord have mercy on us while we wait at the foot of his mountain.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

0 Comments

Exodus 3:1-15 - Lectionary for Pentecost 25 C

11/1/2016

0 Comments

11/1/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our passage from Exodus chapter three God introduces himself to Moses. Not only is he the one who makes a place holy by his very presence, he has heard his people Israel in all their troubles. God introduces his intention to rescue Israel from Egypt and bring them into the land promised to Abraham. He does not forget his promises, but will fulfill them.

Moses is not up to the task of bringing the people out of Egypt. He does not have the authority before Pharaoh. He does not have the authority or popularity with the people. He has been away in the wilderness for decades. He is patently unqualified. What will he do?

Notice that God’s response is that he is the one who has commanded it to happen. Therefore, there is no fear. Moses will act as an instrument of God. What is this God like? He is the one whose character is embodied in the name he tells Moses. “I am” is the one who is sending Moses. God further identifies himself using the participle of the being verb. He is the one who is being. Just as he was the one being with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he is the one who is being with Israel.

Most would see this passage in a typological context. God the Father is sending Moses, his chosen prophet, who returns from apparent death in the desert, to call his people out of slavery into the land of promise. Moses, then, is a Christ figure. Yet the fulfiller, Jesus, is greater than Moses. He himself promises to be the one who is “being” with his people, to the end of the world. This is the way God is to be known to his people through all generations. We can surely see Christ in this passage, the one who has accomplished all that is needed to rescue his people from bondage to sin and death.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

0 Comments

Exodus 19:2-8 - Lectionary for Pentecost 2A

Exodus 17:1-7 - Lectionary for Lent 3A

Exodus 24:8-18 - Lectionary for Transfiguration, Cycle A

Exodus 3:1-15 - Lectionary for Pentecost 25 C

Help Fuel This Ministry by Clicking Here!

About Throwing Inkwells

Blog Feeds

Support us!

Categories