Dear saints, it has been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It makes sense; it is a rational statement. Humanity can observe the past and make decisions that do not lead us down a road already tried and failed. Now, the more cynical among us may counter that the only thing we learn from history is that we are incapable of learning from history, and thus, are doomed to repeat it. Think about it: How often do we repeat the same mistakes over and over? Whether it is a mistake in our own life or one another person or country or whatever has made, mankind is constantly repeating the same mistakes over and over. Mistakes that, if we actually learned from history (both our own and others), we ought not to make.
This morning, St. Paul urges us to learn from Israel’s past. He exhorts us to see their example and not desire the evil things they desired and commit the same sinful mistakes that they committed.
Only a few months from being liberated from Egypt, Israel is at Mt. Sinai. Moses has ascended it and is with God. He is being given the Law and ordinances that Israel will live under. While he is gone, Israel decides Moses might not be coming back. They forget about their God and ask Aaron to cast new gods for them. He creates a golden calf, an image typically seen as for fertility and power, and Israel worships it as their god. They held a feast, laid offerings before the calf, and rose up to play, which is a kind way of saying they indulged in lewd and immoral things with one another in worship to this god.
Later, the people began to mingle with the daughters of Moab. They made sacrifices to the Moabite gods and worshipped them. The anger of the Lord burned against his people, and in judgment 23,000 men who had worshipped the Baal were struck down. In the wilderness wanderings, the people gripe and complain about the food and manna they have. God sends fiery serpents because of their evil and many die. When they repent, the serpents are not removed, but a sign and promise is given. When the spies return from Canaan, the people fear their report and grumble against the Lord. They do not trust him to deliver the Promised Land he promised. These are but a small sample of Israel’s many failings…a sample that all happens in a short amount of time.
“These things,” St. Paul says, “were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” These things are a warning to us. Infidelity, idolatry, and unfaithfulness are mortal to our soul. It is hard to fathom how the people of Israel could do what they did. How great and manifest the works of God were in their midst, and how quick they were to turn away from him! But that is kind of the point. How is it that we continue to fall into the same traps and temptations and sins over and over? No wonder we have this lesson before us today.
Israel was the called and chosen people of God. The salvation of the world was promised to come to them and through them. And while they knew and remembered this part of their history, they were quick to forget other things. It is easy for us to look down on Israel. It is easy to shake our heads at their hardheadedness and hardheartedness. At their continual unbelief and lack of faith in the Lord God.
Just as Israel was called and chosen to be God’s people, so also are you called and chosen to be a redeemed child of God. Like the people of Israel were, we are to live a faithful and upright life. We are to watch our lives and keep God’s commands. And we are not to look down on those before us who have failed in many and various ways. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. This morning, we are warned against false security, carelessness, and indifference.
We are not to live in a false security that, because we call ourselves a Christian, or because we regularly (even weekly) attend the Divine Service, we are on a solid foundation and ‘right’ with God. Israel seemed to think that, because they were God’s chosen people, they could do what they pleased, and everything remains fine. We see how wrong they were. And it should drive us to repent. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are just like Israel. We, too, are quick to act or speak or carry on with things we know God condemns. This is why we should not look down on Israel or others who we see turn this way or that. It is what St. Paul means when he writes, “Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed.”
Likewise, we are not to be careless or indifferent. We should take care to watch our lives and actions. We are not to be indifferent to what we see around us, especially when so much of it is so harmful to our neighbors, especially children. Our conduct matters. Our thinking matters.
In this lesson, we are warned that just because we are baptized or because we frequently come to the Holy Supper that our salvation is assured. We do not believe in a “once saved, always saved” doctrine of salvation. You may be certain that you are God’s child and that he will not leave you or forsake you. I urge you to hold fast to that promise. But that does not mean that you like Israel did so many times, cannot turn your back on and leave God. Thus, this morning’s warning.
Because we are Christians, you and I have a high calling in our lives. We are called to be holy and blameless. And yet, we know our actions are frequently more like the people of Israel than those of our Lord Jesus. We confess that we are like the wasteful manager we heard about in this morning’s parable. We often take for granted the ability to gather and hear the Word of God … even in our virus-laden day we still have an easier time gathering than Christians in many other nations do. How often do we take our baptism for granted, perhaps even tempted to see the washing away of all our sins a license to do evil? How easy is it to see the Supper laid out, welcoming you to come and eat for the forgiveness of your sins and nourishment of your soul, and decide that it is your own thoughts or actions that make it special rather than Jesus coming to you with great gifts each time.
The manager, faced with unemployment and tarnished reputation, quickly set out to ‘cook the books’ and set himself up for his future. Note that he is commended for his shrewdness and not for his messing with the bills. Despite all our sins and all our abusing of our Lord’s gifts, he does not tell us we can no longer be his child. We do not have to hurriedly try to make things right. There would be nothing we could do.
Actually, there is nothing we can do when it comes to fixing our relationship with our God. We continually confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean … that we sin in thought, word, and deed… that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Without God’s action, we would be destroyed like unfaithful Israel.
But God does act. He takes on our flesh. He perfectly fulfills his Law. He suffers and dies for you, rising on the third day to ensure that you also will rise. He graciously gives you his Word to hear and believe. He gives you sacraments to receive, remember, and partake. He takes your bill, your debt of sin committed against him. But he does not scratch out the number and reduce it by 20% or even 50%. He takes your debt of sin and, on account of Christ’s death on the cross, writes Paid in Full. Thanks be to God that he hears our prayer, causes us to ask for those things that are beneficial for us, and saves us for His own Name’s sake. Amen.
Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD
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