Exodus 12:1-
After Moses returned to Egypt with the charge to bring the Hebrew people out, he had two main tasks. One was to convince the Hebrew slaves that their God, Yahweh, had sent Moses and they cover trust him to lead them out of Egypt. Secondly, he had to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people leave. Neither of these could Moses do on his own. God used a series of plagues to persuade Pharaoh to let them go, but it was a challenging task, for to lose the slaves was to lose free labor that would impact the economy of Egypt, even though Pharaoh feared that the Hebrews would side with a foreign enemy of Egypt and overthrow the government.
The final plague was to be the death of the first born of everything in Egypt, including the Hebrews. In the instructions for the Passover, Moses revealed God means of salvation for the Hebrews if they were willing to follow God’s instruction. In vss. 12-11 the people receive the instructions of how they are to prepare a meal of roasted lamb. The instructions are specific with no allowance. They are also to smear some of the blood of that lamb over the door posts of their houses so that when the angel of death comes that night it will pass over their houses. God’s instructions also tell the people to dress for travel and eat the meal quickly unlike the usual custom of several courses and lingering at the table. They are to burn any meat not eaten and do not save any for the next day. (A foreshadowing of the instructions that will come with manna in the wilderness!)
In vss. 12-13 God explains how the plague will work.
In vss. 14-28 Moses gives instructions to the people about the Passover meal and institutes it as a lasting ordinance to celebrate as a festival to the Lord. Vss. 29-30 tell about the horrible experience of this plague. In vs. 31 Pharaoh beckons Moses and Aaron and beg them to leave. Thus begins the exodus from Egypt after 430 years. God places restrictions on the Passover keeping and an exclusive community is formed.
In vss. 1 God set a calendar for the Hebrew people that begins in the Spring reminding the Hebrews, just a s new life in nature begins to unfold in the Spring, so did their salvation from the Egyptians. After the Babylonian exile that calendar will change again so that the Hebrew calendar starts in the fall (September-October.), but for now (March-April) is the beginning of the calendar.
Psalm 148
This is a psalm of praise that invites all creation to join in a praise of God.
Matthew 18:15-20
Chapter 18 of Matthew’s gospel begins with a discussion among the disciples about who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. After a discussion about that Jesus tells a parable about the worth of a lost sheep. The shepherd goes to search for one, while 99 others are left in danger. Then we come to a teaching of Jesus about how you deal with someone (a fellow believer) who sins against you. The steps Jesus outlined were first to approach the person one on one. If there is no resolution, one or two others are taken as witnesses and as intervening people. If that does not bring resolution, then taken them before the congregation. Here the word “church” is used, which is only one of two times in the Gospels to use that word. If there is no resolution this time, then we are told to treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Now the question: How do we treat the pagan or the tax collector?
Romans 13: 8-14
Paul begins with a challenge to let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another. Quickly we recognize that Paul is emphasizing the commandment of Jesus to love God with heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul proclaims that love will fulfill the law. Paul encourages the people to get a handle on the times in which we live, noting that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. For that reason, we must make sure that our actions and witness is in accordance with the teachings of Christ and the commandments of God. Paul suggest that we clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. How would you explain to an unbeliever or an inquiring person that that means and what that looks like? What does it look like if a person is clothed in Jesus Christ?
Holy God, we always walk a tight rope between holding up the standards of scripture and determining how to teat others as we desire to be treated. Help us know how you would have us to be both a shining light in our community and a person of God’s grace. Amen.