Article 7

The story of Ruth is both simple and complicated at the same time. It is a simple story about a bond of love that brought a foreign woman into the tribe of Judah. But it is also covers some complicated points of the covenant law during a time when fidelity to God was hard to find. But through one family's faithfulness, we get a great foreshadowing of God's great plan of salvation as Ruth and Naomi find a redeemer who will save them from poverty even as their future descendant will redeem us from our sin.

Samson's last words make for a fitting title to this week's chapter of "The Story". In this chapter, the people of Israel time and time again forget the covenant God had made with them so that they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy people. Foreign powers invade and only then do to the tribes remember that they have sinned and need God's help. God remembers His mercy and remembers His covenant and remembers His promises even when the people forget time and time again. What comfort do we have today because God remembers us?

As a promise passed on through centuries, the land that God showed to Abraham is now before the tribes of Israel. After the previous generation dies in the wilderness and Moses says his final words, it is time for Joshua and the Israelites to inherit that land. As they enter, God repeats His promises to Joshua, saying "I will never leave you or forsake you." God is faithful and keeps every promise, going before Joshua's armies and giving them the victory. The promises and victory that guide this journey lead us to know better the ultimate battle that was fought for our salvation. How can knowing that victory help us against spiritual enemies, today? What promises of God can we cling to?

There is a musical bonus after the sermon from Bethany's Created 2 Worship group as they sing the spiritual, "Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho."

We begin on Mt. Sinai where God thunders on the mountain and the people shrink back in fear. No one can approach God's terrible power and the radiance of His glory, except for Moses, who was chosen to receive the words God sends to His people. But on the mountain God calls His people a "kingdom of priests" and a "holy nation" and gives instructions to Moses to build a structure where, God says, "I will dwell among them." However, it does not take long for the people to turn away from God's ways. But following this story again sets up a pattern of sin, forgiveness and worship that is still part of the fabric of our story, today.

In this podcast, you will hear the sermon preached on Reformation Sunday at Bethany Lutheran in Alexandria, Virginia. As a musical bonus, you will also hear "One Faith, One Hope, One Lord" by Courtney offered by the Bethany Singers and Brass.

After Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you would expect the rest of "The Story" to unfold in the land God promised to them and their descendants. But, in chapter three, we go from Caanan to Egypt and the road there is filled with a series of misfortunes for Jacob's son, Joseph. But because God's hand is in all of Joseph's life, there can be a reconciliation at the end of this chapter that foreshadows how God will bring all people into His family.

Abraham and Sarah journey from their home to the place that God promises to them and to their descendants. It is a journey of faith, both because of the physical travel involved, and also because of the way God keeps them on the right spiritual path. Many centuries later, the Apostle Paul writes, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations." How can you be against all hope and also in hope? Abraham, Sarah and later Isaac learn that this is a God thing. And when a child is born, Abraham and Isaac foreshadow how God is going to save His people through the nation built by Abraham's descendants. God will provide the sacrifice!

At Bethany's Rally Day service for 2019, we introduced "The Story" - a program to read through the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we see the phrase "these are the generations" repeated. This connects well to our dedication to read and pass on God's Word so that "One generation" can "commend your works to another, and ...declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4)

In the second of three "Kingdom Talks", I preach about "Kingdom Glory" based on 1 Timothy 1:12-17. God has acted in Paul's life, so as he writes to his former travel partner, he expresses with joy how God has given him strength and has given so much grace that it has overflowed into his life. That leads to an expression of praise, similar to when David expressed his joy at the offerings people gave to build the first Temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 29:11). Our giving is also in response to the great strength and overflowing grace God gives to us!

Church budgets are based on faith and the work of the Holy Spirit as much as they are on math and organizational objectives. That adds a certain supernatural element to church budgeting that drives most pastors and volunteers absolutely nuts while God and His angels (I'm sure) smile at us. In Luke 14:28 Jesus says to the great crowds who are following him that they must "count the cost." Now here, I don't think this is divine instruction for how to do a church budget. This is addressing something we do before we do any church budgeting or any work for the Lord. This cost has to do with our heart and our dedication to God as we work in His Kingdom.