WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:15.919 Well, hopefully you've gotten caught up on the story so far between uh uh um Carissa and what John's reading, and uh we're trying to give us a full experience of Exodus and the whole story. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.679 You know, if we're gonna dive in, we might as well really dive in there. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:26.399 So you're getting a uh the the whole story, as it were, and I hope you've been enjoying it. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:47.759 Uh we from last week uh we talked a bit about how they prepared to escape, these Israelites, uh, and then we ended kind of right as the Red Sea was parting, which thank you to Candy and Vinia, who found our little Red Sea thing here, kind of a cool uh backdrop for the altar. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:56.240 Uh so after they do escape, then there's some songs of celebration and Exodus, and we finally landed our passage today. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:01:00.399 Many people call it bread from heaven. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:11.840 So these Israelites they have been wandering, I think it's about 45 days now, having escaped, and now they're complaining about things, right? 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:25.840 And God responds to their complaining by making sure that they have enough food for each day, and they are to take and to eat only that which they need for that day. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:31.760 And then God promises, or God promises, and then God delivers. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.439 It's kind of the story of Exodus, right? 00:01:35.599 --> 00:02:05.040 So if I I take us back to our theme that we're working through Exodus with, this theme of the journey to faith, you'll remember we talked about sometimes life will feel a bit like you're you're in a basket and you're floating down a river, and there's different influences and different pressures that are happening, and you're you're navigating that, and then amidst that journey, God comes to us with this invitation of some something better, a new way. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:08.719 Then we make a commitment to that new way. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:20.479 Remember the blood on the door last week, and then finally we um get to this passage where we are in that new life. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:24.080 And you would think there would be great happiness. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:30.719 Instead, the Israelites are not happy, they're wandering through the desert, through the wilderness. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.319 They're trying to figure it out. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.120 Food and drink are scarce. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:37.280 I'll remind you of verse 3. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:51.680 The Israelites said to them, If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots and ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.000 Do you feel their anxiety? 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:57.039 Do you feel they are upset? 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:03.599 They're talking about how enslavement has its advantages. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:05.439 Right? 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:09.199 At least we had food and water and shelter. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:17.919 Can you imagine being in a situation in which you would choose enslavement? 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.599 This is where the Israelites are. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:36.960 I'll remind you, we've talked about these other influences that exist in the world around us, the gods, lowercase gods that grab our focus and they grab our attention, they grab our allegiance. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:48.719 When I talk about this, usually from in a place like this, most of us, we kind of dream up something really spiritually sinister, right? 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:52.800 Something, some dark character in some movie. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:04:10.080 We don't immediately think of the everyday lowercase gods that will claim our attention, that will claim our focus, like coffee, he said with a mirror in front of him. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:18.560 Last year I tried to point out about this sinfulness with cookies. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.319 I got some threatening emails. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:27.519 I suspect the Girl Scout cartel. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.560 So this year we're going with coffee. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.199 It's been safe so far. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:44.160 But it helps us, doesn't it, to recognize the hold that sometimes these things have over us. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:47.680 Have you ever tried to quit coffee? 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:57.600 Or to quit sweets, or just to just to lose weight, he said with a mirror in front of him. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:58.800 Right? 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:01.680 It's it's not uh easy. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:07.279 I mean, with weight, now we're even getting shots that help us out with the darn thing. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:09.199 We're so beaten up over that. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:27.360 From there, that understanding of sin, that thing that gets a hold of us, it's a little easier to go to that extreme and talk about the things like drugs and alcohol that really can take over your life, in fact, lead to destroying your life. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:51.279 And if we have some courage, we might even take a look at some of the personal personality challenges that many of us have, really that all of us have, working on our patience, working on our anger, working on our procrastination. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:06:04.079 You know, just like the Israelites, we build the strength to leave that false, false God only to find that it's tough without that thing. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:05.439 Am I right? 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:12.720 Like, holy smokes, that little sweet, it brings me happiness. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:19.120 My coffee gets me going in the morning, right? 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:23.040 I can solve problems with my anger. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:29.839 Sometimes I make more problems with my anger, but still, this is what I know. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.720 This is what I know and how I know how to work. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:35.199 Have you been there? 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:39.120 Because that's our Israelites. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:49.759 That's where that not only that, but the benefits that were supposed to come from this escape don't come very fast. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:51.279 Right? 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:55.920 Because the invitation from God comes with this promise of something better. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.560 We think the something better is gonna come right away. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:01.519 Oh, great, I've made my commitment to you, God. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.240 Now you may bless me. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:08.000 By the way, you're welcome. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:09.040 Right? 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:13.920 We get into that space where we think it's gonna change, right? 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:19.120 And when it doesn't happen, we start looking back at that old habit. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:25.680 We start thinking about it differently in our minds. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:31.120 You know, the doctors say a little coffee is good for you. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:33.279 Hmm? 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:34.639 Right? 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.639 Anger's not always a bad emotion. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:44.240 How are we supposed to deal with social injustice in this world? 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:51.759 Maybe I'm addicted, but at least it was something I liked. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.160 It gave me joy. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:03.680 It's here, right here, that we ought to recognize the real challenge of enslavement. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:12.560 Because yes, there is this power and it is physical, but it's also psychological, isn't it? 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:32.799 It's also in our minds when we are enslaved, there's a certain uh comfort that comes from that predictability, and when we switch to faith, which can feel uncertain, especially at the beginning of that journey, it's tough. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:52.320 Trusting that there really is a better way, plus having faith that God feels we are worthy of it, sometimes that is the most challenging part of this new journey to faith. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:09:07.600 Getting back to the passage a bit, you probably noticed, but in a lot of the uh preparation for leaving and in the leaving itself, God is giving a lot of instruction that includes like behaviors and habits. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:12.240 I don't know if all of you were able to read, uh, but you probably noticed it. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:24.159 And you know, those of you who read, and you probably noticed it, and and you started picking it up pretty quickly, and you're like, oh, and it was one of those Bible passages where you're like, yada, yada, yada, okay, I get the picture. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:28.639 And we move forward to something that uh grabs our eye. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:33.600 But maybe we should be taking note of some of this behavior. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:35.840 Why is God doing this? 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:37.360 Right? 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:50.080 You'll see all the specificity of the instruction, all of it done with particular purpose, all of it done with particular remembrances of things that have happened. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:58.000 If we look again at what we see in our passage today, the Israelites are concerned, as they should be. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:04.960 Right, resources are light, but God responds, but God responds with caveats. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:12.639 You'll be given what you need for today, so only eat what you need for today. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:24.080 It sounds a little controlling, but at the same time, do you notice how a pattern can begin to develop? 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:31.600 By taking only for today, we're trusting that there's a tomorrow. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:37.120 We're trusting that God is going to provide. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.440 We're building a faith. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:46.960 Personally, I hear some of that twelve-step language here, right? 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:50.639 Uh the focus on now, focus on today. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:59.039 Have the trust and faith that you'll have what you need for today, today, and we'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:17.039 God is trying to help these Israelites develop the healthy life patterns, but also patterns that lead to faith, to trust, not only in God, my friends, but in ourselves. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:29.919 Finally, I wanted to point out that uh, and maybe this is something you're seeing too, the importance of this happening in the desert. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.600 Right? 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:35.360 I have disappointing news for everyone. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:58.799 This kind of personal work, this shaping of ourselves, of our souls, of what we believe, this learning how to rely on God's presence, God's love, God's justice, this is the kind of work that you really can't do in a holiday spa. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:04.320 I'm sorry to have to bring you this news. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:15.919 We can't do this work, this work of shaping ourselves, while we're sipping complimentary orange juice over a mani petty. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:19.679 It just doesn't work. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:28.639 This is really stripped down work that we're doing as we're trying to shape ourselves and shape our faith. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:32.559 We have to go where we are vulnerable. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:36.480 We have to go where there are personal stakes. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:39.039 This is where we're going to develop some trust. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:50.320 When Jesus was ready to begin his ministry, he went and he got baptized, and then he went to the desert to get tempted by Satan. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.840 This is how he started his faith journey. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:55.919 This is how he prepared. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:03.279 He didn't go to the four seasons because that's not the place. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.000 We have to go where we are vulnerable. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:10.639 We have to go and learn to trust and learn to have faith. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:19.840 There's some good words to this that Walter Bruggerman has, and those of you who are working through that book uh uh would probably enjoy it. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:30.399 Uh, but he starts off by saying, but of course, the narrative is exactly to the point that the glory of God carried by Jesus is found precisely in the wilderness places of society. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:37.279 Thus, glory and slash wilderness, this is our Exodus understanding. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:46.960 The glory of God comes to us in the wilderness, in our articulation, comes to us as glory crucifixion. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:55.039 Meaning that glory, the understanding of God has to go through this darkness, this tough time. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:07.600 We need to understand how we are connected through our own imperfections, our own actions that that uh diminish Christ, even kill Christ. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:19.120 We need to find our way through our inadequacies, our vulnerabilities, our sinfulness, to be able to understand who we are being asked to be. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.440 Give me one more slide there. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:40.159 In that regard, the Christian confession is completely congruent with the Exodus narrative, the peculiar God evidences glory, meaning the legitimacy of governance, the legitimacy of God's presence to guide our lives because of the way God responds to us. 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:43.200 That is learned in places of jeopardy. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.879 Finally, this last bit. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:15:00.080 The takeaway from this sequence of witnesses is that we should not be impressed by or enthralled to the prominent modes of glory expressed as wealth, power, knowledge, or control that seduce. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:14.000 The authentic, trustworthy aura of legitimacy is found precisely in arenas of vulnerability, among the blind, the deaf, the lepers, lepers, the lame, the dead, and the poor. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:35.200 Friends, the difficult news, but also the blessed news is the pathway to this faith is through our own wildernesses, our own deserts, because it's in that place that we are able to open ourselves and develop faith. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:43.519 The tendency at this point would be to begin to set some high bar of faith. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:44.559 Right? 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:46.879 You see how it works now, okay? 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.399 Give it all to God now. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.320 It's it's that easy. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:56.559 My hope is that the truth is the feeling is the opposite. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:12.000 To me, the hope that's revealed here is that our challenge as human beings, people looking to find God's abundance, looking to live amongst God's love and peace and justice, is not unique. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:19.759 We share that not only with each other, but with our brothers and sisters from 3,000 years ago. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:31.039 This is in many ways just a snapshot of what it means to be a human, and hopefully there's comfort in that to know that that is the journey. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:41.679 We have uh a journey that we take where we're navigating between spiritually healthy things and not so healthy things. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:47.919 We have tendencies and inclinations to both, depending on the circumstances. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:53.919 Our invitation is to strive to maximize the healthy. 00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:00.080 That might mean having to realign yourself from time to time. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:10.319 From this part of the Exodus story, we can learn that this can be difficult, but we also learn that there is a pathway. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:20.240 It's a pathway built around realigning our faith with trust for God's presence in the world and in yourself. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:27.839 It's a presence characterized by peace and justice and love, and it's that presence we are seeking. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:34.319 May God bless us on this quest to know and to live that presence. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:35.680 Amen.