January 22, 2009

I’m finally back! Sorry for the lack of writing lately. I was overwhelmed by the annual report, lots of homebound visitation last week, and then the flu in the last two days. I still feel pretty awful, but I am able to work at home today on my sermon and other projects.

Genesis 49-50

In this passage, we read the end of the family history from Abraham and Sarah through their great grandchildren, Jacob’s children. Jacob’s 12 sons’ families will become the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob’s last words to his sons include prophecies about the future of these tribes. For example, the prophecy about Judah reflects the fact that David comes from the tribe of Judah, and he and his descendents will rule over Israel.

After Jacob dies and is buried, the brothers come to Joseph and ask for forgiveness for what they did to him when he was young – throwing him into a pit and selling him into slavery. Joseph’s response is fitting conclusion to Genesis: ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? ²⁰Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. ²¹So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ God used the harm the brothers did to save the family through Joseph.

Exodus 1:1-14

‘Exodus’ means exit, referring to the eventual exit of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. After Joseph and his brothers died, the Israelites multiplied in Egypt. After some generations, the Egyptians started to oppress and enslave the Israelites.

Matthew 14:1-21

This passage combines two related stories: the execution of John the Baptist and the feeding of the 5,000+ (we call it the feeding of the 5,000, but that’s only counting the men). In the Lectionary cycle of readings for Sundays, we never hear the first story, but only the second. But there is an important contrast going on here: what (and who) is served at Herod’s feast vs. what (and who) is served at Jesus’ feast. Jesus feeds the multitude with bread and fish as a sign of the coming kingdom of God; Herod serves up death for God’s servant John at a feast for the rich and powerful (by the way, this is Herod Antipas, one of the evil Herod the Great’s sons).