Todays sermon is on the confrontation between Moses and Aaron and Pharaoh’s magicians. Aaron throws down his staff which transforms into a serpent. However, I argue that the staff actually transforms into a creature much more incredible than a serpent but our modern translations are too timid to say so.

Along the way we look at the function of the chaos monster in ancient near eastern mythology and how the Hebrew scriptures challenge this view. Then we finish by reading Paul’s take on the defeat of the ultimate dark power, death, and how that victory shapes the way we live in the world now.

Exodus Part 16: Thinking Like an Egyptian

September 12, 2023 Mason Matthews

Colossians 3:1-14

Exodus 7:1-7

Today’s sermon looks at two questions about recurring issues in the Exodus narrative. First, why does God seem so intent on Pharaoh being the one who actually free the Israelites? Second, if Pharaoh is the one to free the Israelites, why does God harden Pharaoh’s heart to prevent Pharaoh from doing just that? Along the way we discuss the Egyptian and ancient mindset as shaped by polytheism. We conclude by applying these lessons to the powerful forces that shape our own life.

Exodus Part 15: The Importance of the Ordinary

September 7, 2023 Mason Matthews

Exodus 29:39

Hebrews 10:19-25

Exodus 6:10-30

We enter a new section in Exodus featuring the climatic battle between God and Pharaoh with exciting plagues and miracles involving seas parting. However, before we do so the text pauses to give us, of all things, a genealogy. Is this genealogy misplaced, or does it interrupt out story for a reason. This sermon argues that the genealogy is here to make a very important and practical point. Along the way we learn about an important Hebrew literary device known as an inclusio and discuss a really interesting rabbinic debate.