Lessons for Today - Part 4
Exodus 8:20-24
03/07/2024
20 Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Rise up early in
the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he
goes out to the water, and say to him, `Thus says
the LORD, ``Let my people go, that they may serve
me.
21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold,
I will send swarms of flies on you and your
servants and your people, and into your houses.
And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled
with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which
they stand.
22 But on that day I will set apart the land of
Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms
of flies shall be there, that you may know that I
am the LORD in the midst of the earth.
23 Thus I will put a division between my people and
your people. Tomorrow this sign shall
happen.'' ' ''
24 And the LORD did so. There came great swarms of
flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his
servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt
the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. (ESV)
In the fourth plague, God set His chosen people apart from
the Egyptians.
Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Rise up early in the
morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out
to the water, and say to him, `Thus says the LORD,
``Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else,
if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send
swarms of flies on you and your servants and your
people, and into your houses. And the houses of the
Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and
also the ground on which they stand. But on that day I
will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people
dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that
you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the
earth. Thus I will put a division between my people
and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall
happen.'' ' '' And the LORD did so. There came great
swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his
servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the
land was ruined by the swarms of flies.
Are Christians always exempt from the tragedies which
afflict the world? Of course not. But, living by trusting in
God's promises, Christians are often able to overcome the
problems and difficulties in ways those who reject God cannot.
We have the sure and certain hope of God's rich grace, that He
fulfills His promises even when all seems hopeless.
May our Lord grant us faith that we trust in Him always,
that we call upon Him in the day of trouble. Amen.Author: admin
Lessons for Today — Part 3: 03/06/2024
Lessons for Today - Part 3
Exodus 8:19
03/06/2024
19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ``This is the
finger of God.'' But Pharaoh's heart was
hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the
LORD had said. (ESV)
One of the constant themes in the story of the Ten Plagues
as recorded in Exodus is Pharaoh's hardened heart.
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ``This is the
finger of God.'' But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and
he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
The LORD does not cause some people to reject His grace,
love, and mercy, but He allows them to have their desires.
Pharaoh, like many people today, simply had no desire to
acknowledge God's power and majesty, in spite of the evidence.
His trusted advisors, the scientists of the day, confessed that
they were powerless to do the works which God performed.
Today, where the First Amendment promises the freedom of
religion, that freedom is narrowly defined as the ability to
worship as you please. But you cannot bring your religion into
the workplace, as we have seen as various merchants and artists
are sued for refusing to go against their convictions concerning
marriage. What good is religious freedom if you cannot live
according to your beliefs?
Science and academia will not even allow the idea of
intelligent design, of traditional marriage, and a higher power
to be discussed. The basics of religion are not only ridiculed,
they are suppressed. Can we not debate the ideas which go
against the modern narrative? That is the same hardness of heart
expressed by Pharaoh.
We believe, teach, and confess that all who are redeemed
from sin and death by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
are given that salvation only by God's work. We also confess
that all who are condemned are condemned because they rejected
God's gift of forgiveness.
May our Lord grant us hearts willing to hear and trust in
Him alone. Amen.Prayer for the use of media for evangelism
In light of our ongoing outreach through both radio and television, especially as we are again hosting the recording session for Main Street Living, we offer this prayer which is found in “My Prayer Book – 1980 Edition” as published by CPH.
Lord Jesus Christ, blessed Savior, how great is Your mercy that You would have all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! Let me always remember Your command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation that people everywhere may learn to know the truth of Your saving love. I must confess that I have not always been as active as I might have been in obeying Your command. At times I was even tempted to excuse myself by pleading that there was little that I could do to bring the Gospel to everyone. But now You have given us the marvels of radio and television, by which the story of Your saving love can be quickly carried to all the world. Accept, O Christ, my gratitude and my offerings for these modern ways of going quickly to all the world with Your saving Gospel. Favor with Your divine blessing the radio and television mission of our church, and by the working of the Holy Spirit make Your Word, carried by the air waves, a power to salvation in the hearts and lives of people everywhere, for whom You died that they might live forever. Amen.
My Prayer Book, CPH
Lessons for Today — Part 2: 03/05/2024
Lessons for Today - Part 2
Exodus 8:16-19
03/05/2024
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Say to Aaron,
`Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the
earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land
of Egypt.'''
17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with
his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and
there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of
the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.
18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to
produce gnats, but they could not. So there were
gnats on man and beast.
19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ``This is the
finger of God.'' But Pharaoh's heart was
hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the
LORD had said. (ESV)
We find recorded in Exodus:
Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Say to Aaron, `Stretch
out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so
that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'''
And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his
staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were
gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth
became gnats in all the land of Egypt. The magicians
tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they
could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. Then
the magicians said to Pharaoh, ``This is the finger of
God.'' But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would
not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
The plagues inflicted on Egypt before the Passover had two
purposes. First, the plagues showed the children of Israel that
God was in their midst and desired to deliver them from slavery.
He would act with power to bring them back to the land once
promised to their father Abraham. Second, the plagues showed the
Egyptians that He is the one true God, that their pantheon of
deities were of no avail.
Egyptian magicians were able to produce the same effects of
the first two plagues. When the water of the Nile River turned
into blood, the Egyptian magicians did the same through their
secret arts. So too, the magicians were able to bring frogs up
from the water, the second plague.
The lesson for today, although we may seem to have power
over nature, yet that power is limited. God, who created the
heavens and the earth, can and does those things at which we can
only marvel, including creating and sustaining life.
May we have the wisdom to acknowledge that God has power
over all things. Amen.Lessons for Today — Part 1: 03/04/2024
Lessons for Today - Part 1
Exodus 8:16-17
03/04/2024
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Say to Aaron,
`Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the
earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land
of Egypt.'''
17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with
his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and
there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of
the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt.
(ESV)
The historic Collect for the Word says:
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be
written for our learning, grant that we may in such
wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest
them, that by patience and comfort of Thy holy Word we
may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of
everlasting life, which Thou hast given us in our
Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee
and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.[1]
What do we learn from the Old Testament lesson for the Third
Sunday in Lent? This is the account of the third and fourth
plagues which struck Egypt before Pharaoh let the children of
Israel leave the land. Is this merely history, or can we draw a
lesson for today from this account?
We know that the entire Passover account, including the ten
plagues, point us to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Passover, as
John the Baptizer confessed. Pharaoh's reaction to the plagues
certainly give us a reason to pause, to consider how God is
greater than all of our human powers.
Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Say to Aaron, `Stretch
out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so
that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'''
And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his
staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were
gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth
became gnats in all the land of Egypt.
May our Lord grant you His richest blessings as we learn of
His love, grace, and mercy. Amen.
____________________
1. The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 14Wrestling with God — Part 5: 03/01/2024
Wrestling With God - Part 5
Genesis 32:30
03/01/2024
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,
saying, ``For I have seen God face to face, and
yet my life has been delivered.'' (ESV)
Thus Jacob wrestled with God and man, yet prevailed. In
faith he went forward to meet his estranged brother, to reconcile
with him, and to raise his family. ``So Jacob called the name of
the place Peniel, saying, `For I have seen God face to face, and
yet my life has been delivered.'''
In faith, as we struggle with the crosses of life, we learn
to recognize and experience God properly. We call upon Him in
every trouble, knowing that He will bless and keep us. Although
His answer may not agree with our desires, we know He will do
that which leads us to eternal life with Him. One commentary
says:
Alone and faced with danger, Jacob finds God to be his
adversary. Yet faithful Jacob wrestles and receives a
new name and God's blessing. It does not always seem
that God is on our side. Sometimes He causes
Christians to bear trials, temptations, and suffering
-- the cross. Yet, this is not to destroy us, but to
strengthen us and finally bless us. Christian faith
clings to God's Word of mercy in Jesus Christ.[3]
Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunday morning
at 9:00 a.m. to learn more of God's rich love, grace, and favor.
Amen.
____________________
3. Lutheran Study Bible, p. 68Wrestling with God — Part 4: 02/29/2024
Wrestling With God - Part 4
Genesis 32:26-28
02/29/2024
29 Then Jacob asked him, ``Please tell me your
name.'' But he said, ``Why is it that you ask my
name?'' And there he blessed him. (ESV)
Through the long, dark night, Jacob wrestled with God and
prevailed. As dawn broke, the two ceased their contest, with
Jacob demanding a blessing. God gave Jacob a new name, Israel,
which means ``one who wrestles with God.'' ``Then Jacob asked
him, `Please tell me your name.' But he said, `Why is it that you
ask my name?' And there he blessed him.''
Jacob wanted absolute proof that he was indeed wrestling
with God. However, we should not ask nor seek the hidden name of
God, but we should only rely on that which is revealed in the
Bible. Although we desire to know more than that which is given
to us, speculation on God's hidden will is doomed to failure. We
know His revealed will, that all people be saved and come to the
knowledge of the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith
alone for the sake of Christ alone.
God repeated the blessing given to Jacob earlier.
I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the
God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to
you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be
like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad
to the west and to the east and to the north and to the
south, and in you and your offspring shall all the
families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with
you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring
you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I
have done what I have promised you.[2]
May our Lord richly bless us with the sure and certain hope
of life everlasting for the sake of His Son. Amen.
____________________
2. Genesis 28:13-15 (ESV)Wrestling with God — Part 3: 02/28/2024
Wrestling With God - Part 3
Genesis 32:26-28
02/28/2024
26 Then he said, ``Let me go, for the day has
broken.'' But Jacob said, ``I will not let you go
unless you bless me.''
27 And he said to him, ``What is your name?'' And he
said, ``Jacob.''
28 Then he said, ``Your name shall no longer be
called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven
with God and with men, and have prevailed.''
(ESV)
Dawn was breaking. Jacob and an unnamed man had wrestled
through the night.
Then he said, ``Let me go, for the day has broken.''
But Jacob said, ``I will not let you go unless you
bless me.'' And he said to him, ``What is your name?''
And he said, ``Jacob.'' Then he said, ``Your name
shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you
have striven with God and with men, and have
prevailed.''
Jacob refused to give in, to stop wrestling, unless his
opponent gave a blessing. In asking for the blessing, Jacob
recognized that this was no mere man with whom he had been
wrestling, but God, Himself.
The blessing came in the form of a new name, Israel. Jacob,
whose name meant ``the holder of the heel,'' was recognized as
the ``one who wrestled with God.'' His faith remained strong, As
one who prevailed over God and man, Jacob could face meeting his
brother, Esau, that day.
As we struggle with the problems of life, as our prayers are
not answered as quickly as we desire, or not in the way we
desire, our faith wrestles with God and man. Our Lord promises
to be with us, not to remove all obstacles in our way. We may be
injured as we strive to remain faithful, but we will be blessed.
May our Lord strengthen our faith to wrestle against the
problems of this life, giving us faith in God's rich grace and
love. Amen.Wrestling with God — Part 2: 02/27/2024
Wrestling With God - Part 2
Genesis 32:24-25
02/27/2024
24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with
him until the breaking of the day.
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against
Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip
was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
(ESV)
Jacob, the grandson of Abraham and the son of Issac, was
returning to the land of his birth. Because he had cheated his
brother, Esau, out of his inheritance and birthright, Jacob
feared the retribution which could happen. He sent his wives and
possessions into safety across the Jabbok River while intending
to spend time alone in repentance and prayer.
``And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him
until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not
prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip
was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.''
Jacob may have thought that his rival was Esau, but it was
indeed the LORD God. The physical wrestling match mirrored the
spiritual wrestling match, the perseverance of prayer, which
Jacob offered. Repenting of his sin against his brother, Jacob
was asking God for His grace. Jacob did not deserve forgiveness
and God's protection, but knew of God's love. No matter what
happened, Jacob was certain of God's mercy.
All that night Jacob wrestled with the unknown man,
overcoming even physical injury. As the day broke, Jacob, though
injured, was not defeated. His physical and spiritual wrestling,
his faith, was still firm.
May our Lord grant us a firm faith in Him as we wrestle with
the problems and chances of this life. Amen.Wrestling with God — Part 1: 02/26/2024
Wrestling With God - Part 1
Genesis 32:24-25
02/26/2024
24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with
him until the breaking of the day.
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against
Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip
was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
(ESV)
Shortly after Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in
313, the bishops of the Church published a list of readings for
each Sunday. The Gospel for the Second Sunday in Lent was the
story of the Syrophoenecian woman who sought Jesus' help for her
daughter. For a while, Jesus ignored her prayer. He said ``it
is not good to take the children's bread and feed it to the
dogs.'' Yet the woman replied, ``Yes, Lord, but the dogs eat the
crumbs which fall from the master's table.''[1]
The faithful followers of God persevere in their prayers in
spite of God's seeming silence. Jacob, the third Patriarch of
the Jewish religion, fled from his father-in-law, and was
approaching his hostile brother. He had sent his wives and
possessions across the Jabbok River and waited for the dawn.
``And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the
breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail
against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put
out of joint as he wrestled with him.''
While fervently praying to God for forgiveness and
deliverance, Jacob also wrestled with a stranger. We will see in
the coming days that Jacob physically wrestled with God, even as
he spiritually wrestled with Him in prayer.
May our Lord give us the perseverance of faith to firmly
trust in God for all things. Amen.
____________________
1. See Matthew 15:21-28