It used to be that...
Illustration
It used to be that a handshake would seal a deal. And when someone said "I give you my word," it meant something. Honor was at stake. You knew the promise would be kept.
God gave Israel a promise: "I will be your God." He promised to love his people, to deliver them from bondage, and to give them a new life in a new land. But he gave them more than a handshake: he gave them Moses. And he gave them his word.
Moses proved to be the prophet par excellence. Through thick and thin, through hair-raising episodes that even Hollywood found to be exciting enough to be profitable, he led God's people on.
Finally God said "That's it, Moses. This is as far as you go. I have promised, I will deliver." And he did; and he still does. It was called the promised land because God had given his word.
In the Transfiguration we see Jesus talking on the mount with Elijah and Moses about his "exodus" which is to take place with the crucifixion. We quickly discover that the new Moses, the new Elijah, is really the old God keeping the old promise.
God alone still leads his people into a new life in a new land.
On with Lent.
God gave Israel a promise: "I will be your God." He promised to love his people, to deliver them from bondage, and to give them a new life in a new land. But he gave them more than a handshake: he gave them Moses. And he gave them his word.
Moses proved to be the prophet par excellence. Through thick and thin, through hair-raising episodes that even Hollywood found to be exciting enough to be profitable, he led God's people on.
Finally God said "That's it, Moses. This is as far as you go. I have promised, I will deliver." And he did; and he still does. It was called the promised land because God had given his word.
In the Transfiguration we see Jesus talking on the mount with Elijah and Moses about his "exodus" which is to take place with the crucifixion. We quickly discover that the new Moses, the new Elijah, is really the old God keeping the old promise.
God alone still leads his people into a new life in a new land.
On with Lent.
