Daily Readings - Thu Jul 20 2017
Exodus
13Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"15God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.16Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt,17and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey."'18And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'19But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.20So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation and comfort. The first reading from Exodus 3:13-20 describes Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush. God reveals His name as "I AM WHO AM," signifying His eternal presence and commitment to His people. This moment is pivotal as it commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, showcasing God's plan for deliverance. The second reading from Matthew 11:28-30 shifts to Jesus' invitation to those burdened, offering rest and relief. Jesus presents Himself as meek and humble, promising that His yoke is easy and His burden light, emphasizing trust and reliance on Him.
These readings connect through the theme of trust and divine deliverance. In Exodus, God's revelation to Moses is a call to trust in His plan for rescue. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus calls us to trust Him with our burdens. Both narratives highlight the importance of surrendering to God's will, whether in leading a nation out of slavery or in finding personal rest amidst life's challenges.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's providence. Just as Moses trusted God to lead the Israelites, we are invited to trust Jesus with our struggles. The moral lesson here is one of faith and surrender. When we are weary, we can find comfort in Jesus' promise of rest. By trusting in God's eternal plan, we can navigate life's difficulties with grace and find peace in His presence. Let us embrace this invitation to trust, knowing that God's deliverance and rest are always available to us.