The LORD Will Provide - Part 2
Genesis 22:3-6
03/19/2024
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his
donkey, and took two of his young men with him,
and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the
burnt offering and arose and went to the place of
which God had told him.
4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and
saw the place from afar.
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, ``Stay here
with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there
and worship and come again to you.''
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering
and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his
hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of
them together. (ESV)
So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his
donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his
son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering
and arose and went to the place of which God had told
him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and
saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his
young men, ``Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy
will go over there and worship and come again to you.''
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and
laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the
fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.
For three days, Abraham looked upon his son, Isaac, and
considered him already dead. This child of promise, the one
through whom the world would be blessed would soon be sacrificed
at the command of God. Imagine the anguish that Abraham felt as
he, his servants, and his son traveled the three days to Mount
Moriah, the place where, in the future, the Temple in Jerusalem
would be built.
Again we find several parallels between the sacrifice of
Isaac and the sacrifice of Jesus. Abraham mourned the coming
death of his son for three days. Jesus lay three days in the
tomb, mourned by those who loved Him. Both the sacrifice of
Isaac and the sacrifice of Jesus were in the area of Jerusalem,
the place where God established His holy altar. Both Isaac and
Jesus carried the wood used for their own sacrifice.
Without complaint, both Isaac and Jesus bore their burdens.
Both Isaac and Jesus were commended into the hand of God. May
our Lord show us His love and mercy as we watch the sacrifice of
His Son for our redemption. Amen.Category: Moments of Meditation
Daily devotions as heard on KJOE 106.1 FM
The LORD Will Provide — Part 1: 03/18/2024
The LORD Will Provide - Part 1
Genesis 22:1-2
03/18/2024
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to
him, ``Abraham!'' And he said, ``Here am I.''
2 He said, ``Take your son, your only son Isaac,
whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and
offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains of which I shall tell you.'' (ESV)
This past Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, is often called
the ``Sunday of the Passion.'' Traditionally the Gospel is from
the eighth chapter of John where the rulers of the Temple seek to
stone Jesus for saying He is the Son of God. The Old Testament
lesson is Abraham sacrificing Issac at God's command.
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him,
``Abraham!'' And he said, ``Here am I.'' He said,
``Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall
tell you.''
How does this Old Testament lesson remind us of the passion
of Jesus as He was sacrificed for our sins? There are many
parallels between Isaac and Jesus. First, both were the ``only-
begotten'' son, the legitimate heir of their father. Second,
both were innocent of any wrongdoing. We will see other
parallels as we discuss this reading.
From now until Easter the focus of our readings, the focus
of everything we do in the church, is on the innocent suffering
and death of Jesus Christ for our redemption from sin, death, and
the power of the devil. Jesus is our substitute, the Lamb of God
who died in our place, taking upon Himself the guilt and eternal
punishment of our sin.
May our Lord grant us faith to behold the Son of God who
take away the sins of the world. Amen.Manna — Part 5: 03/15/2024
Manna - Part 5
Exodus 16:19-20
03/15/2024
19 And Moses said to them, ``Let no one leave any of
it over till the morning.''
20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part
of it till the morning, and it bred worms and
stank. And Moses was angry with them. (ESV)
We pray, ``Give us this day our daily bread.'' In this
prayer we confess that God will continue to provide for us, even
if we are not sure of how He will do so. Did the children of
Israel trust that God would continue to provide the daily
nourishment provided by the manna, the ``what is it?'' which they
gathered each morning?
And Moses said to them, ``Let no one leave any of it
over till the morning.'' But they did not listen to
Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it
bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.
Our first parents doubted God's Word. The serpent asked
Eve, ``Did God really say?'' The children of Israel asked, ``Did
God really mean not to leave any manna for the next day?'' We
ask, ``Will God continue to provide us with clothing, shoes,
meat, drink, shelter, and all we need to sustain this life?''
Therefore we worry, we don't fully trust God, we go against
His commands because we think we know more than He knows. It
always turns out that God's plans, God's will, is best, even if
we are unsure of the outcome.
Thus it is with our salvation from sin, death, and the power
of the devil. We think we can save ourselves, but God has told
us there is only one answer to our transgressions. That answer
is the cross of Christ Jesus. If we trust God for our daily
bread, should we not trust Him for our eternal salvation?
Please join us on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity
Lutheran Church to learn more of God's rich love, grace, and
mercy. May our Lord continue to richly bless you in all things.
Amen.Manna — Part 4: 03/14/2024
Manna - Part 4
Exodus 16:16-18
03/14/2024
16 ``This is what the LORD has commanded: `Gather of
it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You
shall each take an omer, according to the number
of the persons that each of you has in his
tent.' ''
17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered,
some more, some less.
18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever
gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever
gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered
as much as he could eat. (ESV)
In the morning the children of Israel arose to find a fine,
flake-like thing on the ground. ``What is it?'' they asked.
``This is what the LORD has commanded: `Gather of it,
each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each
take an omer, according to the number of the persons
that each of you has in his tent.' '' And the people of
Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less.
But when they measured it with an omer, whoever
gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever
gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as
much as he could eat.
Our Lord provides for our physical and spiritual needs. He
works through means. Yes, the manna could have simply appeared
in their tents, but by gathering the manna the children of Israel
showed their faith in God.
We gather our manna, not by looking for something on the
ground, but by arising, going to work, and using the talents God
has given us to earn our daily bread. That is as much a gift
from God as the manna outside the camp. By faith we trust that
God will continue to provide enough for our needs.
May our Lord grant us the faith to recognize His love,
grace, and mercy as He gives to us our daily bread. Amen.Manna — Part 3: 03/13/2024
Manna - Part 3
Exodus 16:13-15
03/13/2024
13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp,
and in the morning dew lay around the camp.
14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the
face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing,
fine as frost on the ground.
15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one
another, ``What is it?'' For they did not know
what it was. And Moses said to them, ``It is the
bread that the LORD has given you to eat.'' (ESV)
The children of Israel were about to witness a miracle.
They had complained to Moses and Aaron about the lack of food and
bread, even as they longed to return to the luxuries they
remembered in Egypt. No matter that they were slaves, no matter
that they were embarking on a journey of promise, they were
unhappy.
What did God do to provide?
In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and
in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the
dew had gone up, there was on the face of the
wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on
the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they
said to one another, ``What is it?'' For they did not
know what it was. And Moses said to them, ``It is the
bread that the LORD has given you to eat.''
We may not recognize God's rich gifts. The children of
Israel called the fine, flake-like thing ``manna,'' literally
``what is it?'' For four decades they ate ``what is it?'' in the
wilderness. Maybe they did not recognize the substance, but it
was God's gift to sustain them.
Do we always recognize God's rich blessings? How often do
we say, ``what is it?'' and look past that which He gives. When
our eyes are blinded by the expectations of this world, do we
look past the cross of Jesus asking, ``How is that a blessing to
me?'' Yet God comes to us in unexpected and miraculous ways,
ways that make us ask, ``What is it?'' It is His love in action.
May our Lord help us to see His grace, love, and mercy so
that we may receive His rich blessings with thanksgiving. Amen.Manna — Part 2: 03/12/2024
Manna - Part 2
Exodus 16:4-5
03/12/2024
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Behold, I am about
to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people
shall go out and gather a day's portion every day,
that I may test them, whether they will walk in my
law or not.
5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they
bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather
daily.'' (ESV)
God heard the grumbling of the children of Israel. He knew
of their dissatisfaction, their desire to abandon the path which
led from slavery to freedom. The lure of the present, even if it
meant living as a slave, was greater than the promise of the
future.
Yet God, in His mercy, did not punish them for their
discontent. Rather, He used their discontent to show His love,
grace, and mercy.
Then the LORD said to Moses, ``Behold, I am about to
rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go
out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may
test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On
the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it
will be twice as much as they gather daily.''
And so it was that God prepared an answer to their prayer.
Even as the children of Israel complained, even as they doubted
God's love, He provided for them. Yes, this was a testing of
their faith, an opportunity for them to grow in their trust in
God.
We may not be in the wastelands of the desert east of the
Red Sea, but we still are beset with problems and concerns.
Either we can complain, or we can trust in God to provide, even
if we do not understand how He will sustain us. His plans for
us, His deliverance from our physical and spiritual problems, are
always astounding.
May our Lord grant us wisdom to trust in Him above all
things. Amen.Manna — Part 1: 03/11/2024
Manna - Part 1
Exodus 16:2-3
03/11/2024
2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel
grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the
wilderness,
3 and the people of Israel said to them, ``Would
that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the
land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and
ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out
into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly
with hunger.'' (ESV)
Six weeks after the children of Israel left Egypt, shortly
after crossing the Red Sea, the people became dissatisfied.
And the whole congregation of the people of Israel
grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and
the people of Israel said to them, ``Would that we had
died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when
we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for
you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill
this whole assembly with hunger.''
Would God sustain them during their journey to the land once
promised to their forefather Abraham? Did they have faith in
God, or did they doubt His mercy?
Like the children of Israel, we look at the difficulties of
the journey and doubt that God truly loves us. After all, at one
point, even though slaves to sin, we were comfortable. Now,
having left the comfort of our rebellious lives behind, we
grumble at the hardships of our journey of faith.
Some people want to simply give up and go back to slavery.
After all, what we had seemed better than what we have now, even
if we had no freedom or hope. As we live for the moment rather
than living with our eyes on Christ, we certainly will complain
about the problems of this life.
This week we will look at God feeding and sustaining His
people in the wilderness. In the same way He fed Israel, God
gives us the fullness of His physical and spiritual blessings.
May our Lord grant us faith to hold firmly to Him, to trust
Him for all we need to sustain this body and life. Amen.Lessons for Today — Part 5: 03/08/2024
Lessons for Today - Part 5
Exodus 8:24
03/08/2024
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)
When our Lord speaks, all of creation listens. His Word
does what He says. He spoke, and all things were made. He
promised Adam and Eve a Savior who would redeem them from sin and
death, and Christ Jesus was born. He promises us the same
forgiveness, and you hear the good news that Jesus Christ died
for your sins, and rose again to show His victory over death and
the grave.
God, speaking through Moses and Aaron, told Pharaoh that
flies would destroy the land. ``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.''
May our Lord preserve us from such calamities as befell the
Egyptians. He uses tragedies to call us to repent of our sin, to
turn to Him, to acknowledge that we cannot, by our own reason or
strength, control those things which are in His power alone. We
also acknowledge that suffering, as we hold to God's promises,
increases and strengthens our faith. Finally, it reminds us that
Jesus Christ suffered the punishments of hell on our behalf so
that we can experience the joys of heaven.
Please join us on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity
Lutheran Church to learn more of God's love as found in Jesus
Christ. Amen.Lessons for Today — Part 4: 03/07/2024
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.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.