Lectionary for 4/14/09

Today's readings are Exodus 15.19-16.12 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+15.19-16.12 ) and Hebrews 10.1-18 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+10.1-18 ).

 

In today's reading we see how quickly the people of Israel are to grumble against God.  He has rescued them from a marauding army.  He has provided them with food and drink.  He has promised to continue providing them with what they need.  And the people of Israel quickly begin grumbling and distrusting God again.  These ancient people of Israel are not so much different from us.  We see God's hand of provision and we immediately start to think that things will be bad again.  We see God's care for us and claim the glory for ourselves.  We see the good surrounding us in our world and look as carefully as we can for the evil.  We see the silver lining and curse the cloud.

 

What is our Lord to do about us?  He makes a covenant with the people.  Look how one-side the covenant is.  God says, "I will provide what the people need.  I'll show them that I will take care of them.  They will see it is from me when they follow the directions I give them."  It doesn't seem to require much of the people, right?  Of course, we will see when we read on that the people don't manage to follow the directions. 

 

So what can the Lord do to bless his people?  We see Jesus enter into the scene.  Here Jesus comes in Hebrews, making an offering for sin, once for all, wrapping up that sin problem for good.  He fulfills God's law since we aren't going to do it.  He makes God's covenant of blessing even more one-sided than it was before.  God says someone needs to fulfill the law and atone for sin.  Someone needs to obey.  Someone needs to live in perfect righteousness and die for sin.  No descendant of the first Adam could or would.  So God the Son chooses to do it for us.  Someone has in fact done what it takes for God to deliver his matchless and boundless blessing to mankind. 

 

What are we to do about this?  There's nothing we can accomplish.  It's all done for us.  It is ours only to look, wonder, believe, and receive the repentance and forgiveness our Lord has provided for us.