Whiteboard: Daily Bread

What do we mean when we say, "God provides"?

That is the question at the heart of this Sunday's sermon.

We have two familiar stories as our scripture lessons this Sunday, and each one helps us wrestle with the question of God's providence.

The first reading comes from Matthew 20:1-16 and is the surprising parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. The landowner goes out in the morning to hire daylaborers. They agree on the regular daily wage and off to work they go. Then he goes out again a little later to hire more laborers and agrees to "pay them what is right" and off to work they go. Then he goes out again at Noon and 3PM and 5PM hiring more folks promising to pay them what is right. And at the end of the day when it is time to settle up...the landowner pays everyone the same regular daily wage no matter what time they came to work! The outcry from the first laborers hired is as consistent as it is expected, "That isn't fair!" The landowner responds with a word about promise, blessing, and generosity:

But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

Our sermon scripture will continue to flesh out what it means to say "God provides" with the miracle story from Exodus 16:2-15 -- the story of Manna from Heaven. This story doesn't end with the people complaining, rather it starts there! The Israelites, recently liberated from the cruel oppression they knew under Pharoah's hand in Egypt, are complaining that life was better back in Egypt and they wonder aloud, "Why didn't God just kill us in Egypt instead of bringing us out here to the wilderness to starve to death!" God hears their cries and decides to test their obedience by providing them daily bread that falls miraculously from the heavens (and fresh quail meat too!).

Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’

So what does it mean when we say "God provides"? How has God provided in your life? And what kind of response do we muster up in the face of all that God has given us? Come join us this Sunday at FCC Scottsdale as  we wrestle with these questions and celebrate the grace, mercy, love, and generosity of our amazing God. See you Sunday!