Daily Readings - Wed Jul 21 2021
Exodus
1And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.5And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.9And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.13And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
Matthew
1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that invite us to reflect on trust, provision, and spiritual growth. The first reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they, after their liberation from Egypt, find themselves struggling with hunger and doubt. Their murmuring against Moses and Aaron reveals a deeper struggle with trust in God's providence. Yet, in His mercy, God provides manna and quail, a tangible sign of His care and a call to trust in His daily provision. This narrative reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God is ever-present, offering us what we need to sustain us on our journey.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching the parable of the sower, a vivid illustration of how God's Word is received in different hearts. The seed that falls on good soil produces abundant fruit, symbolizing those who hear and embrace God's message with openness and receptivity. The other soils—beside the road, on rocky ground, and among thorns—represent the various ways we can fail to let God's Word take root in our lives. This parable challenges us to examine the state of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's Word can grow and bear fruit.
Both readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the call to trust in God's provision and to be receptive to His Word. Just as the Israelites needed to trust in God's daily manna, we too must trust in His providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. And just as the seed requires good soil to bear fruit, our hearts must be open and receptive to the Word of God if we are to live fruitful and Spirit-filled lives. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God's provision, even in the wilderness moments? Is our heart like the good soil, ready to receive and nurture the seed of His Word? May we strive to deepen our trust in God and to cultivate hearts that are fertile ground for His grace to grow.