October 1, 2025

Today's Reading: Amos 6:1-7

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 2:16-37; Matthew 6:16-34

“So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, the Lord said to me, ‘Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar. And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.’ …Rephaim formerly lived there… a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; but the Lord destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they dispossessed them and settled in their place, as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day… ‘This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’” (Deuteronomy 2:16-19, 20b, 21-22, 25)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The people of Israel are preparing to enter the land of Canaan. This retelling of the events beginning the forty years’ wandering reinforces the truth of what will come for them in Joshua. The Lord will fight for them. The Lord will send their enemies fleeing before them.

Moab, Ammon, and Edom are filled with unfaithful people. People to whom the Lord is faithful in His covenant promises. He promised them lands and prosperity, which they have. He even restrains Israel against them. All of these promises are known to the Israelites from Genesis. These unfaithful heathens still enjoy the rain falling on the just and the unjust alike from a faithful God. How much more will He be faithful to His people, Israel?

The promises of God are all gathered together as proof of what is to come. In the garden, he promised to send the Seed of the woman to crush the Serpent’s head. Jesus, the only Son from Heaven and Mary’s Son, is the Messiah Israel awaited. All of creation was groaning for salvation. In Jesus, it is here. God’s greatest promise was delivered by Christ’s death to destroy the power of Satan for you, dear Christians. He has marked and is preserving you in His baptismal grace, delivering you into salvation.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, You delivered Your promises to your people of old, and You have delivered Jesus to all mankind. Keep us steadfast in your grace, that we may receive the eternal life promised therein, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, La Grange, Texas.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you’ll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.