Not all of the stories about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt are in the book of Exodus. The book of Numbers has some doozies, and I could have taken up the talking donkey this week, which is always tempting. But since we are rounding the last corner of Lent and heading for Holy Week, I think the better choice is the story in Numbers 21 about why Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. I think it’s a better choice because Jesus pulls this oddball story out of a hat in John 3 to talk about the meaning of his own crucifixion.

– Pastor Anne

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As we continue in the wilderness stories of the Exodus, we’re going to skip forward quite a few chapters and head to Mt. Sinai and Moses receiving the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Someday I’ll do a whole series on them, but this week we’re going to look at them all as a group and think about the way the individual commandments provide support for each other as we try to keep the main thing the main thing in our lives. I think they have an internal order to them that can teach us how to build a moral core. Watch, listen, or read, and see if you agree.

– Pastor Anne

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Exodus 3 gives us one of the most famous stories in the Bible. Moses is in the wilderness and encounters a bush that is on fire. Unlike normal bushes, however, this bush isn’t turning to ash; the flames do not die down and neither is the bush consumed. Odd. So Moses takes a look. And from there emerges a conversation with God where Moses is given his calling and the name of God is revealed.

There are people who have devoted their lives to trying to understand and interpret the revelation of God’s name in this story. We won’t take quite that long; but we will join Moses at the burning bush to see if the story might speak to us now. Spoiler alert: It does.

— Pastor Anne

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The most powerful stories are proven by their ability to live, grow, and continue to speak from age to age, culture to culture, people to people. Starting this week, we will turn to what is perhaps the central story of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Exodus. Week by week we’ll look at the pivotal stories within this experience to understand, not just how they shaped the ancient Israelites, but to hear what they might say to us today. Join us this morning as we consider the story of the Pharaoh and the Midwives.

Pastor Anne

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Many of us know the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness at the start of his ministry, as depicted in this famous painting by James Jaques Tissot. What we often overlook in that story is that Jesus didn’t end up in that situation by trickery or accident. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that it was the Spirit of God who led him there. Wait! What? What happened to “Lead us not into temptation?” What is God up to here, and what does that mean for me? Join me as we enter into the wilderness of Lent and think it through.

Pastor Anne

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