Broadcast
Getting What We Don't Deserve - Part 1
Exodus 17:1
01/29/2024
1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved
on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according
to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at
Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to
drink. (ESV)
The theme of this week's readings in the Divine Service at
Trinity was, ``grace is undeserved.'' Each of the readings
focused on God's gracious gifts of physical or spiritual
blessings, which He gives even when we grumble against Him. As
sinners, as ones who by nature turn from God, we deserve His
wrath and punishment. However, God does not delight in the death
of a sinner, so He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price of our
sin. We are given the forgiveness which we cannot earn. With
the forgiveness of sins comes everlasting life.
Our Old Testament lesson, from the seventeenth chapter of
Exodus, speaks of the earliest weeks after the children of Israel
left Egypt. `` All the congregation of the people of Israel
moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the
commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no
water for the people to drink.''
Consider what had happened to the children of Israel in the
preceding weeks. They watched while the firstborn of Egypt died.
They crossed the Red Sea on dry land, only to see Pharaoh's army
drown as they tried to follow them. They saw God as a pillar of
cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.
This week we will see how, in the face of God's glory, His
chosen people were not satisfied with His blessings.
May our Lord grant that we recognize God's rich grace, and
that He gives us thankful hearts to acknowledge Him. Amen.