Moses was born in Egypt several generations after Joseph brought his father Jacob and his brothers there to escape a famine in the land of Canaan. The descendants of Jacob had been enslaved by the Egyptians and were ordered to kill all their male children. When Moses was born, his mother put him in a basket and set it afloat in the Nile River. He was found by Pharaoh's daughter and raised by her as her own son (Exod 2:1-10). At age forty Moses killed an Egyptian taskmaster and fled to the land of Midian, where he worked as a shepherd for forty years. Then the Lord called him to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh, "Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness" (5:1). Eventually Pharaoh gave in, and after the Israelites celebrated the first Passover, Moses led them out. At the Red Sea the Egyptian army was destroyed, and the Israelites passed to safety on dry land (Exodus 12-15). At Mount Sinai they were given the Law and erected the Tabernacle (Exodus 19-40). But because of disobedience they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Moses himself was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, although God allowed him to view it (Deuteronomy 34). In the New Testament Moses is referred to as lawgiver and prophet. The first five books of the Bible are attributed to him. [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
Higher Things Reflection
A few verses earlier, Isaiah speaks of a “sealed book” that even the literate could not read. Can you imagine opening a book and not being able to read it? Imagine more – if you knew that what that book contained were the words that held the key to your salvation, and you couldn’t understand it! Imagine the panic and desperation!
This is the state of our sinfulness. The Lord’s gifts are right in front of us. His mercy has been plainly there from the moment of creation. But our sin has sealed the book that contains His saving words. We can pick at the seal that holds the book shut; we can work and work to make sense of it, but all of it is for naught. We are still unable to find the Lord’s salvation by ourselves.
Thank God that salvation does not depend upon us, our literacy, and our ability to sort out for ourselves God’s Word. The Bible is, for us sinners, a “sealed book.” We can read, of course. But many read the Bible without having a clue about the Lord’s word of promise and salvation. The problem isn’t with the Bible itself – the problem is with sinners.
So the Lord sees to it that His Word is preached. The Lord doesn’t leave sinners to sit alone and try to sort out the Bible. The seal of the book is removed through the preaching of the Gospel. It happens “in that day,” that is, when the Lord finally comes for you. The words will not be hindered. He first created the earth and the whole universe with nothing but words. These words are so powerful that even the deaf can hear them.
When our dear Lord Jesus first came in human flesh, He healed the deaf and gave sight to the blind. When John the Baptist sent one of his disciples to check out Jesus, our Lord passes on the message, “…tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” This is what happens when our Lord Jesus is on the scene. When Jesus comes among us, He restores us into the hearing of His word and the receiving of His salvation. "Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
While we suffer from our own blindness, and inability to make sense of His Word by ourselves, our Lord makes that word clear; He makes “all things new.” Hear the word preached each Lord’s Day. Receive his gifts. He is restoring your blindness. He is removing the seal and delivering to you His salvation. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11b
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