Psalm
65:3
When
iniquities prevail against me,
you
atone for our transgressions.
This
psalmist goes on to say that God himself will be our righteousness; this same
god who created the world and all the wonders; this same God will redeem us and
the world will notice and be in awe of these signs and wonders.
We
continue reading in the book of Exodus of God’s wondrous signs and of the awe
they inspire in the people, all the people except Pharaoh. In keeping with the
taking back of the gifts God gave to Egypt through Joseph we see the plague of
hail that kills all the flocks and fields; these too had been delivered from famine
through Josephs actions on their behalf and in not letting the Israelites go,
they lose these things to this plague of hail. Now, I am not entirely certain
but I expect that hail is not a regular occurrence in Egypt and freezing rain
bullets all over the land would be very disturbing.
After
the hail, come the locusts – who eat whatever is left in the field and then
take over the houses, to such an extent that now even Pharaoh’s servants are
pleading with him to let them go. And yet, he refuses.
We
have left the Chronicles behind and begin to read in Ezra today of the restoration
of the house of Judah. This begins the account of king Cyrus of Persia who
brings the captives and the temple vessels out of Babylon, in order to restore
them to Israel.
I
thought I would post the entire passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans today
as it is very important. It speaks to the Exodus and God’s saving actions on
our behalf and gives an answer to how we might be saved when we ourselves are
unable to accomplish it. This is what he says:
Romans
3:21-31
But
now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although
the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace
as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward
as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's
righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former
sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be
just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Today’s
readings: Psalm 65, Exodus 9:13-10:29, Ezra 1, Romans 3:21-31
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