Daily Readings - Thu Jul 18 2019
Exodus
13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.16Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.19And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.20And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine encounter and invitation. In Exodus, Moses stands before the burning bush as God reveals His name, "I AM WHO AM," and commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This passage marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as God prepares to liberate His people from slavery and establish a covenant with them. The name "I AM WHO AM" underscores God's eternal and unchanging nature, emphasizing that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened: "Come to me, and I will refresh you." This passage reflects Jesus' deep compassion for those struggling under the weight of life's challenges. He offers not only rest but also a way of life—taking His yoke upon us and learning from His meekness and humility. Jesus' promise of a "yoke that is easy" and a "burden that is light" contrasts with the heavy burdens imposed by the world, inviting us to trust in His grace and find true freedom in Him.
These readings are deeply connected, as both point to the theme of divine liberation. In Exodus, God liberates His people from physical slavery, while in Matthew, Jesus offers liberation from spiritual and emotional burdens. Together, they remind us that God is always near to the downtrodden and the weary. In our own lives, we are called to trust in God's eternal and unchanging nature, just as Moses did. Like the Israelites, we are invited to step into the freedom God offers, letting go of the weights that bind us. And like those who heard Jesus' words, we are called to embrace His gentle yoke, finding rest and peace in His presence. May we, like Moses and the people of Israel, respond with faith and courage to God's invitation, and may we, like those who follow Jesus, find true rest for our souls.