Holy Week

Mar 29 - April 4

Exodus, Book of Hebrews

The great kingdom of Egypt is on the brink of collapse: their water contaminated, crops destroyed, livestock dead, wealth handed over, and the firstborn in every home struck down. Clearly, this Israelite God is a problem for Pharaoh. Even his own aides protest. Would he honestly sacrifice his nation for slaves?

His stubbornness isn’t a matter of mere politics, but of the heart. The question isn’t whether he allows the Israelites to leave; it is whether letting them go subjects him to their God. He would be forced into concession, and Pharaoh concedes to no one.

These final days of Lent are a good time to consider the tyrant that lives in our own hearts, the hardened slavemaster who bows to no one, violently subjecting us to the darkness of our basest desires and most wicked ambitions.

This week, as we follow our Savior to the cross, we will see how the truly righteous king laid down his life for slaves to sin. In witnessing Jesus’ unmatched sacrifice yet again, we have a prime opportunity to confess our sins and submit to the grace and mercy of the true God. This king is different. He shatters our stony hearts and offers a crown of life.

The liberation is at hand.

But our exodus has only begun. Next week, when Easter dawns, we will get a glimpse of the ending: the triumph over death and the new land to which our LORD is leading us, the land not only free from the dark chains of sin, but full of the light of his righteousness.

Easter Week

April 5 - 11

Book of Exodus, Book of Hebrews

The Israelites are stuck with their backs to the sea, facing a furiously advancing Egyptian army that will violently force them into resubmission. But God has a much greater plan for his people. He parts the waters, allowing the Israelites to cross over on dry ground, while the Egyptians perish under the collapsing walls. At first glance, this doesn’t sound much like an Easter story, but it is. It is a story of regeneration, of our baptism.

What God uses to save his people, he also uses to destroy his enemies. Much like he did with that great army, he crushes our sinful nature in a deluge of baptismal water. And he does more. Looking back, beyond that watery graveyard lay our former life, lived under the weight of idolatry and sin. As the waves close in, our deliverance is sealed. There is no need to ever return to that place.

And yet, despite this great miracle, we want to. When our LORD leads us into a seemingly uncertain wilderness, we complain. Our physical needs get the best of us, and we convince ourselves it was better in that old world, where our hearts were heavy, but our bellies were full. The LORD hears this complaint and resets our priorities. There will come a day for feasting. But for now, we eat the manna he gives us with hopeful hearts. And at Easter, why shouldn’t they be? Our Lord is risen! Death itself can no longer loom; what physical pain or worry can overwhelm us?

So the LORD leads us on toward the promised land, but the journey is long and difficult. How do we follow? The writer of the book of Hebrews answers. We live by faith: the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. We have not seen heaven, but God has supplied us with a cloud of witnesses throughout Scripture that testify to it and teach us to believe and trust in our Savior.

Easter is a time when we stand on the other side of the sea, free from sin and death, knowing full well how the story will end. So we rejoice and declare as God’s people:

The LORD will reign for ever and ever. (Ex. 15:18)