“Out of Egypt I have called My Son.” As the Baptized, we have been called out and away from the Egypt of sin and death. We have been called out of unbelief and the works of the flesh. We have been called out of Egypt and into the Promised Land of God’s forgiveness and mercy and blessing. But our hearts are forever wanting to turn back to the fleshpots of Egypt where our bellies seemed to be so much fuller. The wilderness in which we now dwell is often harsh We must rely solely on the provision of God, who gives His children their daily bread without any merit or worthiness in us. But we will never be shorted what is good. Only let us not refuse it. Let us not turn up our noses at the manna God does provide and trade it for the false pleasures which our former slavery always promises to deliver but never actually does. Your Lord, Jesus Christ, has gone this way before you, being drawn out of Egypt, fleeing the hatred of the world, living as an outsider, trusting always in the gracious will and promised deliverance of God. He has made the way safe for you. You do not need to fear not having worldly treasures. You do not need to fear death. Christ Jesus has opened the way to the Promised Land to all who walk this road. He will sustain you on your way, providing the rich feast of His Body and Blood and the daily comfort of your Baptism so that you do not fall in the wilderness and, instead, will arrive safely in the eternal home He has gone before you to prepare. I look forward to seeing you all this coming Lord’s Day as we set aside the fleeting things of this world to enjoy a foretaste of the feast to come and to be strengthened and nourished on our way.
Pastor
