"Daily Bread: What Is It?" Exodus 16:2-21
March 27, 2022
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
"Rejoice!" The Fourth Sunday in Lent calls us to rejoice even as we wander through the wilderness of this world. Our Lord Jesus is with us supplying our daily bread as He cares for both body and soul. Sermon Text; Exodus 16:2-21. Sermon Theme: "Daily Bread: What Is It?" preached for Laetare, Fourth Sunday in Lent, 27-March-2022, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.
Episode Notes
Laetare, Fourth Sunday In Lent 27-March-2022
Sermon Text: Exodus 16:2-21
Sermon Theme: “Daily Bread: What Is It?” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Rejoice!” The fourth Sunday in Lent begins with a shout to rejoice! Rejoicing in Lent? Haven’t we buried the alleluias until Easter? Isn’t Lent a penitential season calling us to turn from our sins and live? Is rejoicing proper? God the Holy Spirit calls us through the pen of Isaiah in our introit to “rejoice with Jerusalem.” Not the physical city of Jerusalem in Palestine, but the true Jerusalem above - the Holy Christian Church. She is our Mother who births us as the Father’s children in Christ through the life giving Spirit breathed out through the active living Word of our God in baptismal water.
She is our Mother nursing her children with the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word preached from her pulpits and echoed in our homes. She is our Mother changing our diapers and clothing soiled by sin washing us forgiven by the Holy Spirit daily and richly through Christ’s blood. She invites us every Sunday to the feast prepared by Christ and served at His Table fortifying us with forgiveness, life, and salvation. The prophet Isaiah preaches, “Isa 66:10-11 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; (11) that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.” St. Paul echoes Isaiah’s call to rejoice in our mother. We are children born of the Promise as Isaac - the son of laughter and joy - was. Quoting the prophet Paul preaches, Gal 4:26-28 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (27) For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” (28) Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.” Our Mother - Christ’s Church - may seem barren compared to the world’s entertainment venues. More fans will watch and discuss the elite eight and final four than will gather to rejoice in the feeding of the 5,000. Still the Church, despised, persecuted, and barren in the eyes of the world - has many more children than the world and her husband the father of lies - the devil.
Five thousand men with their families follow Jesus into the wilderness. He goes up on a mountain and spends the day feeding their souls through preaching His Word. He also cares for their bodies. Early in the morning, even before the day long sermon began, our Lord tests Philip asking, ‘Where are we to buy bread , so that these people may eat?” Jesus knew what He would do - after feasting their souls on the Bread of Heaven through preaching. He blesses the meager supplies and five loaves and two small fish fill the stomachs of the masses. It is a time for rejoicing as twelve large baskets of leftovers are filled. The Lord Jesus provides abundantly for His Bride - the Church and her children - you and me.
Rejoice! Happy thanksgiving! It is today! Haven’t you prayed with Jesus: “Father, give us this day our daily bread”? Haven’t you learned to ask, “What is meant by daily bread?” Echoing the joy of being God the Father’s beloved child - “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.” Rejoice with your Mother as God your Father cares for you richly and daily through His Creation. Learn to ask, “Daily Bread: What Is It?”
Remember back in the penitential season of Advent, when our solemn purple of repentance, was interrupted by a rose candle of joy? On that Sunday St. Paul preached in our introit: Php 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (5) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” In the wilderness of this world, journeying towards the promised land of heaven the Christian’s life is to be a joyous journey not mournful moping.
Forty five days in liberty, freed from 430 years of slavery in Egypt, by the Lord’s mighty hand - surely the children of Israel would be on their way rejoicing. History records (vs.2-3) Grumbling against God’s called and ordained servants of His Word. Complaining that death in slavery would’ve been preferable to freedom in Christ. Turned inward to trust in their stomachs, rather than in the great God who had delivered them. Had they forgotten how the Lord fought for them against Pharaoh and his false gods with His mighty signs? Water turned into blood. Frogs, lice, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn. These plagues fell on the Egyptians, but not on them. How could they forget? The Lord delivered them from death and slavery by the blood of the Passover Lamb. While the Egyptians wept, they feasted upon the flesh of the Lamb who brought them through death to a new life of liberty. Grumbling. How could they forget God’s great deliverance of them at the Red Sea? The world’s most powerful army had been swallowed up by the same water that had been parted by the Lord to rescue them. On that history records , Exo 15:1-2 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! (2) The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.” Now, they grumble, complain, weep and long for the free food of Egypt purchased with chains of their own slavery - rather than for the Lord’s liberty. They have no joy only sorrow, no praise only complaints, no faith only fear.
Have you seen the price of gas? Have you heard of the shortages - we might starve? Will the Russian war in Ukraine bleed over into nuclear battle with us? What about supply chain issues? Inflation is running away? How can we survive? How many more vaccinations are needed to keep COVID at bay? Have you heard about the side effects? Why isn’t pastor doing more to bring more people into our church? How can we survive - the church seems barren - what hope do we have? The dollar is falling the deficit is rising. The climate is changing - its is global warming - cooling - the life gas of carbon dioxide might kill us all. Grumbling, complaining, and fear, - why do we hang our heads in sorrow?
Have you forgotten your deliverance? Return to your Mother’s House - Psa 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." Behold the Lamb of God - Jesus - who takes away the sin of the world. He won’t be forced to be a bread King to save our stomachs - He comes to be enthroned upon the cross on Mount Calvary and crowned with thorns - He gives His life for you and for me - for the world. Fix your eyes upon Jesus crucified to reconcile you to your God and Father. Your sins which enslaved you to Satan, death, fear, and hell have been washed away with His holy precious blood - paid forever in full by His innocent suffering and death. (Vs.4) Our Lord Jesus cares for His people - He did during the exodus, He did during the days of His public ministry, He does now as Savior King enthroned to rule all things as True Man and True God for the sake and eternal benefit of His Church. History isn’t going to hell in a handbasket - our Lord Jesus orders all things that the Gospel may be preached to all nations - then the end will come. The New Jerusalem will descend from heaven - and we will enter the promised land of the life of the world to come in new resurrected bodies forever freed from sin and all its evil.
The Lord God heard Israel’s complaint. He filled them with bread and meat from quails in abundance. (Vs.9-12) The Lord’s glory appears and He speaks to Moses. The Lord’s Word is living and active - it does what it says, (vs.13-15) Nothing is impossible with our Creator Christ Jesus. He feeds them with meat from earth and bread from heaven. The Hebrews call it “manna” - literally means “what is it?” Moses teaches (vs.16-18) The Lord dignifies His children with gathering - He gifted them all their food - but maintained their dignity through the blessing of work. Morning after morning they were to arise early and gather the bread needed for that day alone. For forty years the Lord God fed them from heaven. He sustained them on their journey until they ate the food of the promised land.
Dear Christian rejoice! Daily go about your vocations. The Lord Jesus has sanctified your hands to be His hands to care for one another and His creation. Begin and end each day crying out to your Father in heaven. Remember He has birthed you in baptism and its waters still flood you daily with forgiveness of all your sins, drowning your enemies of death and the devil, and seal eternal salvation upon you. When you are tempted to worry and fret - cast all your cares upon your Heavenly Father for He cares for you. Remember all His daily blessings - “What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like. “
Trust your Heavenly Father day by day for all you need to support the needs of your body. (Vs.19-21) Some of the children of Israel tried to save the manna - it only bred worms and stank - don’t trust in daily bread, but in the Word of God. As Jesus told Satan, Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' " God’s Word made flesh through the womb of the Virgin Mary. God’s Word nailed to the tree to crush Satan and wash away our sins. God’s Word proclaiming Easter victory through absolution. God’s Word given and shed for you and placed upon your lips - the very body and blood of Christ fed into your physical body.
If God the Father has taken care of your eternity in Jesus - can you not trust Him to care for you day by day? David confessed, Psa 37:25-28 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (26) He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. (27) Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. (28) For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.” Rejoice! Daily Bread - it is Christ Jesus Who still journeys with you in this dying wilderness sustaining you body and soul. He will shepherd you Home to Himself in Heaven! Amen.
Sermon Text: Exodus 16:2-21
Sermon Theme: “Daily Bread: What Is It?” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Rejoice!” The fourth Sunday in Lent begins with a shout to rejoice! Rejoicing in Lent? Haven’t we buried the alleluias until Easter? Isn’t Lent a penitential season calling us to turn from our sins and live? Is rejoicing proper? God the Holy Spirit calls us through the pen of Isaiah in our introit to “rejoice with Jerusalem.” Not the physical city of Jerusalem in Palestine, but the true Jerusalem above - the Holy Christian Church. She is our Mother who births us as the Father’s children in Christ through the life giving Spirit breathed out through the active living Word of our God in baptismal water.
She is our Mother nursing her children with the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word preached from her pulpits and echoed in our homes. She is our Mother changing our diapers and clothing soiled by sin washing us forgiven by the Holy Spirit daily and richly through Christ’s blood. She invites us every Sunday to the feast prepared by Christ and served at His Table fortifying us with forgiveness, life, and salvation. The prophet Isaiah preaches, “Isa 66:10-11 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; (11) that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.” St. Paul echoes Isaiah’s call to rejoice in our mother. We are children born of the Promise as Isaac - the son of laughter and joy - was. Quoting the prophet Paul preaches, Gal 4:26-28 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (27) For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” (28) Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.” Our Mother - Christ’s Church - may seem barren compared to the world’s entertainment venues. More fans will watch and discuss the elite eight and final four than will gather to rejoice in the feeding of the 5,000. Still the Church, despised, persecuted, and barren in the eyes of the world - has many more children than the world and her husband the father of lies - the devil.
Five thousand men with their families follow Jesus into the wilderness. He goes up on a mountain and spends the day feeding their souls through preaching His Word. He also cares for their bodies. Early in the morning, even before the day long sermon began, our Lord tests Philip asking, ‘Where are we to buy bread , so that these people may eat?” Jesus knew what He would do - after feasting their souls on the Bread of Heaven through preaching. He blesses the meager supplies and five loaves and two small fish fill the stomachs of the masses. It is a time for rejoicing as twelve large baskets of leftovers are filled. The Lord Jesus provides abundantly for His Bride - the Church and her children - you and me.
Rejoice! Happy thanksgiving! It is today! Haven’t you prayed with Jesus: “Father, give us this day our daily bread”? Haven’t you learned to ask, “What is meant by daily bread?” Echoing the joy of being God the Father’s beloved child - “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.” Rejoice with your Mother as God your Father cares for you richly and daily through His Creation. Learn to ask, “Daily Bread: What Is It?”
Remember back in the penitential season of Advent, when our solemn purple of repentance, was interrupted by a rose candle of joy? On that Sunday St. Paul preached in our introit: Php 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (5) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” In the wilderness of this world, journeying towards the promised land of heaven the Christian’s life is to be a joyous journey not mournful moping.
Forty five days in liberty, freed from 430 years of slavery in Egypt, by the Lord’s mighty hand - surely the children of Israel would be on their way rejoicing. History records (vs.2-3) Grumbling against God’s called and ordained servants of His Word. Complaining that death in slavery would’ve been preferable to freedom in Christ. Turned inward to trust in their stomachs, rather than in the great God who had delivered them. Had they forgotten how the Lord fought for them against Pharaoh and his false gods with His mighty signs? Water turned into blood. Frogs, lice, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn. These plagues fell on the Egyptians, but not on them. How could they forget? The Lord delivered them from death and slavery by the blood of the Passover Lamb. While the Egyptians wept, they feasted upon the flesh of the Lamb who brought them through death to a new life of liberty. Grumbling. How could they forget God’s great deliverance of them at the Red Sea? The world’s most powerful army had been swallowed up by the same water that had been parted by the Lord to rescue them. On that history records , Exo 15:1-2 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! (2) The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.” Now, they grumble, complain, weep and long for the free food of Egypt purchased with chains of their own slavery - rather than for the Lord’s liberty. They have no joy only sorrow, no praise only complaints, no faith only fear.
Have you seen the price of gas? Have you heard of the shortages - we might starve? Will the Russian war in Ukraine bleed over into nuclear battle with us? What about supply chain issues? Inflation is running away? How can we survive? How many more vaccinations are needed to keep COVID at bay? Have you heard about the side effects? Why isn’t pastor doing more to bring more people into our church? How can we survive - the church seems barren - what hope do we have? The dollar is falling the deficit is rising. The climate is changing - its is global warming - cooling - the life gas of carbon dioxide might kill us all. Grumbling, complaining, and fear, - why do we hang our heads in sorrow?
Have you forgotten your deliverance? Return to your Mother’s House - Psa 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." Behold the Lamb of God - Jesus - who takes away the sin of the world. He won’t be forced to be a bread King to save our stomachs - He comes to be enthroned upon the cross on Mount Calvary and crowned with thorns - He gives His life for you and for me - for the world. Fix your eyes upon Jesus crucified to reconcile you to your God and Father. Your sins which enslaved you to Satan, death, fear, and hell have been washed away with His holy precious blood - paid forever in full by His innocent suffering and death. (Vs.4) Our Lord Jesus cares for His people - He did during the exodus, He did during the days of His public ministry, He does now as Savior King enthroned to rule all things as True Man and True God for the sake and eternal benefit of His Church. History isn’t going to hell in a handbasket - our Lord Jesus orders all things that the Gospel may be preached to all nations - then the end will come. The New Jerusalem will descend from heaven - and we will enter the promised land of the life of the world to come in new resurrected bodies forever freed from sin and all its evil.
The Lord God heard Israel’s complaint. He filled them with bread and meat from quails in abundance. (Vs.9-12) The Lord’s glory appears and He speaks to Moses. The Lord’s Word is living and active - it does what it says, (vs.13-15) Nothing is impossible with our Creator Christ Jesus. He feeds them with meat from earth and bread from heaven. The Hebrews call it “manna” - literally means “what is it?” Moses teaches (vs.16-18) The Lord dignifies His children with gathering - He gifted them all their food - but maintained their dignity through the blessing of work. Morning after morning they were to arise early and gather the bread needed for that day alone. For forty years the Lord God fed them from heaven. He sustained them on their journey until they ate the food of the promised land.
Dear Christian rejoice! Daily go about your vocations. The Lord Jesus has sanctified your hands to be His hands to care for one another and His creation. Begin and end each day crying out to your Father in heaven. Remember He has birthed you in baptism and its waters still flood you daily with forgiveness of all your sins, drowning your enemies of death and the devil, and seal eternal salvation upon you. When you are tempted to worry and fret - cast all your cares upon your Heavenly Father for He cares for you. Remember all His daily blessings - “What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like. “
Trust your Heavenly Father day by day for all you need to support the needs of your body. (Vs.19-21) Some of the children of Israel tried to save the manna - it only bred worms and stank - don’t trust in daily bread, but in the Word of God. As Jesus told Satan, Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' " God’s Word made flesh through the womb of the Virgin Mary. God’s Word nailed to the tree to crush Satan and wash away our sins. God’s Word proclaiming Easter victory through absolution. God’s Word given and shed for you and placed upon your lips - the very body and blood of Christ fed into your physical body.
If God the Father has taken care of your eternity in Jesus - can you not trust Him to care for you day by day? David confessed, Psa 37:25-28 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (26) He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. (27) Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. (28) For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.” Rejoice! Daily Bread - it is Christ Jesus Who still journeys with you in this dying wilderness sustaining you body and soul. He will shepherd you Home to Himself in Heaven! Amen.
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