Exodus 14:19-31; Exodus 15:1-11, 20-21 This is the account of the miracle of God splitting the Red Sea so the Israelites, being pursued by the Egyptian army, can pass through on dry land. Can you imagine the anxiety they have, the fear the water might not hold or that the Egyptians too are coming behind them on the same dry land? Has Moses led them on a wild goose chase? But God doesn’t let any of the Israelites perish. It’s a different story for the Egyptians who get stuck. Their path was not so clear, and the entire army drowns when Moses stretches out his hand again. Not only is trust in the Lord achieved but renewed trust in Moses that the God he listens to is more powerful than the Egyptians. This is a lesson to the Israelites that they should not be rooted in fear, but in a deep trust in the Lord to save and provide for them. Also, to trust in the leader God has appointed. When Israel sees the great work the Lord did against the Egyptians, their fear changes into a wors...

  Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:18-20 In Romans 13, Paul is summing up all the Mosaic laws by saying all these are possible by following the greatest commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. He says that one who loves has fulfilled the law. If one loves they will not commit adultery, murder, stealing, or coveting. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Thus, all the commandments are summed up in this greatest commandment to love one another. So, this is the only thing we owe someone – to love them. Knowing this we are to throw off the works of darkness – works not driven by love and put on the armor of light. We are to walk decently, not in the flesh or in quarreling or jealousy. Jesus in Matthew 18 tells how to resolve disputes lovingly. In owing nothing but love to each other we can resolve differences. Perhaps agree to disagree but still own the greatest commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. Remember how Jesus promised Peter the keys to heaven? Well in this pa...

  Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21   In Matthew 16, Peter who was praised for knowing Christ was the Messiah is now being rebuked by Christ. When Jesus tells the disciples he must suffer and be killed, Peter’s reaction is very human, “May it never be.” To this Jesus replies, “Get behind me Satan – you are setting your mind on human things not divine things.” We are surprised at this rebuke thinking Peter said this out of his love for Christ – that no harm would come to him. Yet Jesus talks about a genuine love of sacrifice – of Christ needing to carry out his mission of salvation and Jesus talks about taking up one’s cross and following him. In Romans, Paul talks about genuine love that holds fast to what is good and hates evil. We are to love each other with mutual affection, rejoice in hope and be patient in affliction. We are to persevere in prayer and contribute to those in need and pursue hospitality to strangers. But in verse 14 comes the “carrying your cross” requ...

  Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:4-8 In Matthew Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is. Good ‘ole Peter had the answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.” To this Christ praises him and changes his name from Simon to Peter which means rock. Jesus proclaims that he will build his church upon him. Peter goes on to convert thousands of Jewish people into Christ’s church and after a dream he is told that Gentiles can also become Christ’s church. Well God chose another to spread the gospel throughout the land and the entire world at that time. This one would never pass a resume for this position today. You see he was a zealous hater of Christians and went about arresting them. But Jesus saw the potential in him and in a dramatic conversion turned Paul from hunting Christians to becoming one and recruiting – making Christians. Paul in our Romans passage talks about what makes up Christ’s church. He talks about the many members and what gifts they have to contribute to the b...

  Genesis 45:1-11; Romans 11: 1-2; 29-32   We’ve been studying the life of Joseph. Due to his brother’s sin of selling Joseph into slavery, God worked through this bringing Joseph to a high position where he could help people during the famine even his “disobedient” brothers. Here in Genesis 45 Joseph finally tells his brothers who have come for food and haven’t recognized him, who he is. Joseph realizes how God used this terrible act of his brothers to help preserve life during the famine which came. He tells them that God sent him before them to preserve for them a remnant on earth, and to keep many survivors. God has used their evil for good. In Romans, Paul talks about how the Lord used the disobedience of the Israelites to bring salvation to the Gentiles. Paul starts our passage proclaiming that God has not rejected his people. He states that the gifts and callings of the Lord are irrevocable. They are said to be disobedient now in order that God’s mercy can be shown ...

  Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22,45; Matthew 14:22-33 Our psalmist in Psalms 105 is praising the Lord as he remembers the wonderful works God has done, God’s miracles, and God’s judgements. As an example, he brings up the story of Joseph. When famine was upon the land God had sent ahead Joseph to teach his elders the wisdom of preparing ahead for the famine by gathering and saving extra grain. Joseph didn’t become famous overnight. He went through a life deprived of freedom sold as a slave with all its trappings of fetters and an iron collar. He even served time in prison until the king finally released him. Joseph interprets the king’s dream foretelling the famine to come and how to prepare for it. Due to his wisdom the king appointed him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions. Little did Joseph realize during the bleak slave and prison years that God would use him to save people’s lives by keeping extra food to help the country survive the years of famine. In Matthew the ...

  Genesis 32: 22-31; Psalm 17:1-7,15   We return to the story of Jacob. First he dreams of a ladder to heaven, and declares, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” In today’s account he wrestles with what is said to be a man, yet this man blesses him seeming to represent the face of God. In fact, Jacob afterwards calls the place, Peneul meaning, “The face of God.” Jacob puts up quite the fight here even when his hip is put out of joint, to the point that this man asks to be let go before daybreak, making many scholars think this must be an angelic being since they can’t be seen in the morning light. Jacob seeing his advantage and realizing that he is wrestling a supernatural – maybe even God – says he won’t go unless he blesses him. The man then gives him a name change – like Abram to Abraham, and Saul to Paul. Name changes imply a change of character or stature. Here he is to be named Israel since he has striven with God and humans and has prevailed. Another hint that he is ...