LENT: EXODUS 6

Lenten devotions: Exodus 6 

(please read the chapter before reading this devotion).

Chapters 5-6-7 begin a long action dialog between Moses and the LORD. God asks/tells Moses to do something – pharaoh retaliates – people complain – Moses goes to God, and ... circle repeats. So, you shouldn’t be surprised when the chapter opens with God’s answer (if you want to know what the “question” was, please read chapter 5). There are two main parts of the chapter: revelation of the name and the genealogy of Moses and Aaron. For the sake of time and space I’ll take upon a task to talk about the name.

To set the stage God promises to Moses that He will do triggering pharaoh to send them (sons of Israel) out and even drive them out (Exodus 6:1). Again, the post size doesn’t allow me to explain it in full, but please note the similarity of Adam’s exodus from the Garden [of Eden]. LORD God sent Adam out and drove him out… (Genesis 3:23-24).

Advent Reading: Luke 13

Luke 13

This chapter has parables and healing. After a call to repentance. Jesus goes to a parable of the Barren Fig Tree. The image of the fig tree has deep roots in the Bible. Prophets Hosea (9:10) and Nahum (3:12) develop the image, which Jesus brings to fruition. The listeners of Jesus immediately understood that the fig tree is a description of Israel, same as the prophets would say.

This parable has many layers of understanding, and math skills can help to dig even deeper in the dialog of the owner and the vinedresser. The owner says that he has been waiting for the fruit for the last three years. According to the Leviticus 19:23-25, after planting of a tree is it pointless to look for the fruit during first three years. Therefore, if we have a godly owner (and we have no reason to assume otherwise), he waited 3 years, then he waited for the fruit 3 years, and now he gives a chance to the fig tree for one more year. Total seven – he will evaluate the fruitfulness of the trees after the seventh/sabbatical year.

God is the One who gives us fruit, evaluation, and rest. The vinedressers of the Church take care of the flock, encouraging the growth of the fruit (cp. Gal. 5:22-23). This growth is also exhibited in two other parables in the chapter – parables of the mustard seed and the leaven. Both are very short, delivering the main idea using just a sentence of two, and the idea is growth (Lk. 13:18-21). The word Kingdom here should be taken not only as a kingdom, but as a rule, rule of God. His rule is getting people to grow, grow in their piety, grow in their godliness, grow in the care for themselves and others.         

Galatians

 Letter of St. Paul to Galatians

Title: Galatia is a region is the center of Asia Minor (Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe) which St. Paul visited during his first and second missionary journeys. The letter is the only one of St. Paul addressed to a “district” (diocese).     

Date of writing: about 55 AD.

Date of Narrative: The narrative part (1:11 – 2:14[21]) includes the parts of the conversion and ministry of St. Paul from the beginning through the Jerusalem counsel (Acts 15) and his meeting with Cephas (Peter) at Antioch.   

Structure:

A. 1:1-5, Greetings

 B. 1:6-10, No other Gospel

  C. 1:11 – 2:10, Burden of Paul’s ministry 

   D. 2:11-14, Opposition of Paul and Peter

    E. 2:15-21, Justification by Faith

     F. 3:1-14, Example of Abraham

      G. 3:15-22, Law vs. Promise

      G’. 3:23 – 4:20 Heirs vs. slaves

     F’. 4:21 – 5:1, Example of Sarah vs. Hagar (Abraham’s wives) 

    E’. 5:2-15, Justification by Faith

   D’. 5:16-25, Opposition of Spirit and flesh

  C’. 6:1-10, bear each other burdens

 B’. 6:11-17, centrality of the Cross of Jesus

A’. 6:18, Final greeting

Main themes: There many thematical/antithetical pair in the letter:

Gospel vs. false Gospel

Justification by faith vs. justification by works.

Covenant with Abraham vs. Covenant of Sinai

Heirs/sons vs. Slaves

Spirit vs. Flesh 

Main Characters: Paul, Barnabas, Titus, Cephas (Peter), James, and John

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: The covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12-15-17) and the covenant at Sinai is an important background for Pauline distinction between Justification by Faith and the works of the Law. Both covenants should be taken to their full (fullest) extent – the institutions, the stories (Hagar vs. Sarah) etc. 

St. Paul sets the hermeneutical patter for the OT usage in his letters: he directly quotes a single verse of the Scriptures (5:14), he refers to a passage by quoting one [final] verse (3:10); he alludes to a story (3:15-18), connects the different/unexpected parts of the Scriptures (4:24-27).

Lutheran teaching: One of the main lessons the Confessions pick up from Galatians is the authority of the God’s Word/Gospel vs. corrupted church authority (AC XXVIII:24; SA II, II:15; Tr. 38; FC Sum:1; FC SD, Intro:7; FC SD X:22 [quoting Tr. 41]).   

The Lutheran church is accused of antinominalism – there is no need for the law and good works as the fruits of repentance. On the contrary, Book of Concord states many passages, and Gal 5:22-23 is one of them (AC VI:1; XII:6; LC I:195, 313; FC, Ep, VI:5; FC SD IV:9).   

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 653 – In Christ There is no East or West (Gal 3:26-29)

LSB 683 – Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me (Gal. 2:20)

Relevancy of the Book:

The Letter to Galatians is an important reminder of the Lutheran hallmark – Justification by grace through faith. This faith made us heirs to the heavenly promises. It is God reaches out to us first.

As a response to His grace our lives should produce fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Equality in salvation leads to equal expectations in sanctification. Which, in turns, leads to bearing one another’s burden.    

Memory verses: 2:20-21 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purposes.