Topic

Erna Friesen continued our series on Exodus by leading us through chapters 18 and 19. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, was a priest of Midian. He had looked after his daughter, Moses’ wife, while Moses led his people away from Egypt. Seeing what had been accomplished, Jethro publicly confessed that Jahweh was the only God (faith comes before the law). Jethro then saw how Moses was shouldering too many administrative duties, and convinced him to teach others how to carry out the work and then delegate work to them. Chapter 19 looked at the role of community and ones commitment to it. (This reminded Erna that we should encourage people to consider joining PGIMF, becoming part of this community of faith.) At Mt. Sinai, God the people were not equals. Indeed, we come fatally-flawed, people who have nevertheless been redeemed. Erna, one of our congregation’s numerous people fascinated by law, reminded us that The Law reveals how we are to live the life of faith, taking responsibilities towards others. ‘You were slaves in Egypt, now be good to others’. Psalm 19 praises the Law: “The law of the Lord . . . is sweeter than honey!” [JEK]