Daily Readings - Thu Jul 20 2017
Exodus
13Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"14God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"15God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, '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, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.16"Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers-the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.17And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites-a land flowing with milk and honey.'18"The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.'19But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.20So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. 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.