Friends in Christ, as we are journeying through this season of lent, a time of repentance and renewal, do you remember the sermon from past weekend? Exodus 20, we looked at God’s Commandments, particularly, Ten Commandments. We said, God gave commandments so that our relationships are well maintained with God and each other. The intention of the commandments is to give us boundaries, fences to keep us at bay with our limitations, so that we do not spoil what is holy and sacred. When it comes to the relationship with neighbours, God gave us laws, so that, we do not take that which doesn’t belong to us: be it life, or possessions, or property, reputation etc. So we hear today, Israelites were travelling through wilderness, like any travellers soon they grew impatient and grumble. Like passengers in the back seat of the car, they started to pick on things.

Rather than being like us spending time listening to music, or playing fun car games like ‘I spot with me little eyes’, or answering trivia questions on the way, or spending time to get to know each other better as we so perfectly do during travel, they decided to ruin the journey. They decided to pass their travel time by exchanging views, making comparisons between the life in wilderness and the life in Egypt. Now what happens when you compare things? You either rejoice or find reasons to be hard on yourself. Naturally then, Israelites resorted to murmuring, grumbling and whinging about things. In that, they did what God told them not to do. They basically smeared the reputation of God and their leader Moses. Not so nice of a situation, if you look at it from God’s perspective. The Holy and sacred name of God (2^nd Commandment) and the reputation of Moses (8^th Commandment) were at stake because of their behaviour. How does God respond?

Let us pray:

God we give you thanks for your life giving Word. Since your Word exposes our sin and sets us on the course of repentance and restoration, help us to receive it and rejoice in the Word. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, our Rock and our Redeemer’ Amen.

 Friends in Christ, this prayer, you hear me say often, ‘may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight’, from Psalm 19: 14, shows us what humans are also capable of, capable of doing exactly opposite! That is the problem at hand with Israelites on journey in wilderness.

The words of Israelites against God and Moses was the reason why we are meditating on these words today. Even Psalmist recounts their wilderness journey and said: ‘some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death’ (Psalm 107: 17-18). But why would they whinge? What are they so unhappy about? The actual Hebrew words say that the ‘souls of the people became very discouraged’. By the way scripture says they were taking the costal route: ‘Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom’, so why are ‘their souls very discouraged?’

To start with they were comparing things, comparing life in Egypt to wilderness journey. Their presenting problem was, wilderness doesn’t have ‘food’ and ‘water’ to their liking. So, they opened their mouths, and they poured forth their opinions on what was apparent to them. They said (verse 5): ‘“why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food” What God provided for them through Moses, they called it ‘worthless’ bread. Ouch! Some strong words indeed!

A Rabbi by the name Joseph Telushkin, who is also author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, often lectures on the impact of words. During his lecture Rabbi asks audiences if they can go twenty-four hours without saying any unkind words about another person or to another person. Invariably, a small number of listeners raise their hands, signifying yes. Others laugh, and quite a large number call out, “No!”

Telushkin says, “those of you who can’t answer yes must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go twenty-four hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go twenty-four hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you cannot go twenty-four hours without saying unkind words about others, then you have lost control over your tongue” (Rick Ezell, One-Minute Uplift July 21, 2006).

All sorts of things happen when people lose control over their tongue, especially, when angry. We hurt one another through words, and say things we don’t mean. Even in normal situation, some even spread gossip by losing control over tongue. My mother once told me a proverb and I want to share it with you. Originally, it is in my native language Telugu and let me translate the proverb for you, it goes like this: by the time truth gets outside of the front door only to get ready to go out, and so is at the point of wearing shoes, the gossip already travels the entire city and gets back inside. What does it mean? Well, it means gossip travels faster than the truth. Gossip, is nothing but half-truth plus added perception. Sometimes, gossip is all people need to come up to find a scapegoat. That scapegoat then becomes a punch bag to everyone. Israelites in the wilderness found their scapegoat and punch bag in Moses and in God.

While the presenting issue is lack of ‘food’ or ‘water’, the problem goes much deeper than that. They have lost control over their tongue because their hearts have been too distant from God. The problem is not with the fruit, but with the root!

God, the gardener knew of this. Just as a gardener looks at the health and well-being of the plant and fixes issues with the root and not the fruit, our God does give same treatment. By default human nature is corrupt, no one is perfect. Remember the words of Jesus about the condition of our human hearts: ‘for out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander’ (Matthew 15: 19, and Mark7: 21). Do what is in your heart, or do what your heart tells you is not a ‘sound advice’ after all.

In case of Israelites, their hearts were full of sin. Hence their perception is skewed from the reality of the life God had called them. Clouded by sin they failed to read God’s salvation and providence through the leadership of Moses.

The big picture story is this: Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt upon the invitation of Pharaoh (at that time) who was pleased with Joseph’s leadership and administration of grain during a famine crisis. As a result of Joseph’s work, his brothers and father migrated to Egypt and as the Lord blessed Jacob and his families, Israel grew in great in numbers in the land of Egypt. Later on came another Pharaoh who did not like Hebrews outgrowing in numbers and hence made them slaves in Egypt. But, God remembered His promises to Abraham and sent Moses to free the captives and lead them to the Promised Land. God showing his mighty power redeemed Israel from Egypt and set them on course through wilderness journey. A big picture view at the situation helps us to see God’s providence and faithfulness to Israel. Yet God’s own people had a very short memories, they forgot about Manna and quail. They whinged as if God was not doing things right by them. If you read Numbers 11 you see people complain about their misfortunes…then you see them complain again in chapter 14. Whinging is not going to solve the problem, it could only lead to impatience.

The temptation to sin by word and deed is a real problem, even for baptised Christians. No wonder, Apostle Paul warned redeemed saints this way: (Ephesians 2: 1-3) as for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Being led by sinful self, can only lead us to death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). God being aware of the root of our problem, spared us from eternal death. By love and mercy, He gave us the Lamb of God. Ephesians 2: 4-5 say: ‘but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.’

This merciful nature of God was just as visible back in the time of Israelites wanderings in the wilderness. Upon repentance, people were spared from death, just by looking at bronze snake on a pole. One important fact, the magic was not in the bronze snake pole, (it was later destroyed by King Hezekiah, and you can read this story in 2 Kings 18:4). The real magic, if any, is trusting the Word of God and turning from themselves to God’s Word. Salvation is found outside of us, in the Word of God. This is what I like about our God, to the repentant God’s Word of grace provides absolute salvation. It is as simple as that. While our words and nature bring condemnation, the words of Christ says, ‘you are forgiven.’ This is the gospel.

As Paul puts it simply, God achieves this for us. Listen to these words from John 3: 14-18a: ^‘just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned…’

Are you hearing this good news today my friend? Forgiveness of sins, eternal life is not what we wait around being unsure about them. In all certainty, God gives us these things in Jesus. Yes, some of our words, actions, thoughts, are not always good. But the beauty of the gospel is God places salvation on our heads by pouring waters of baptism.

God’s grace and provision to Israelites in the wilderness came in the form of a bronze snake but for us comes straight into our arms. The water, Word, and bread and wine –these are the gifts of the gospel Christ has put in place for us. If you want a confirmation of this, I might suggest something, next time you hear the words of absolution at the end of it say ‘amen’. By saying ‘Amen’ you mean, ‘yes, I agree.’ Same goes, next time when you come forward to receive Holy Communion distribution. When you hear the words, ‘the body of Christ given for you’, you might want to say ‘amen.’ Likewise, practice saying amen, if you can, when you hear the words, ‘the blood of Christ shed for the forgiveness of sins.’ By hearing your very own words, you can be certain of God’s saving work in your life. May your words of ‘amen’ build you up and build each other up. In the midst of temptation to sin, gossip, slander one another, I encourage you to consider praising God for the gifts He places in the palm of our hands.

As I finish let me alert you to Martin Luther’s explanation to 8^th Commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbour, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

Why is it important to do this? So that, those who are in the light continue to honour and serve God in truth. May we honour God always with grateful hearts and minds and in the same way honour and respect our neighbour enough that we do not gossip, slander or hurt their reputation.

Towards this purpose the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Jaswanth Kukatlapalli

Pastor at Mackay Community Lutheran Church (Mackay), and

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (Cannonvale)

Office Address: 44-46 Wellington Street, Mackay, Queensland, 4740