Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Chris Matthis, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 9.“All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died.” An epidemic strikes in Exodus 9. As the plagues intensify, the first deaths come. But if all the livestock died in the epidemic, why are they later described in the plagues of boils and hail? This misunderstanding disappears under close reading. God gradually intensifies the plagues so as to make Pharaoh dig in his heels, isolating him from his subjects. God thus opens the door for some of the Egyptians to turn and know Him, just as Christ isolated Satan that the Gentiles might come to know His Father.

Rev. Christopher Maronde, pastor of St. John Bingen/Decatur, Indiana, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 8.“I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.” Frogs, gnats, and flies! The transition in Exodus 8 however shows that there are different sets of plagues, each with different meanings. In this second set, the focus is on the ruination of Egypt as opposed to the peace of Goshen. Peace out of ruin, life out of death—these foreshadow Christ’s resurrection and the life of the world to come.

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 7.“The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel.” Aaron’s staff becomes a snake, and when his staff strikes the Nile, it turns to blood. The true confrontation begins in Exodus 7, as God provokes Pharaoh’s proud anger. God’s purpose is twofold: to break Pharaoh’s will and secure the release of His people, and to publicly reveal His glory to all Egypt. Egypt is judged rightly, but the purpose is repentance and salvation, just as it was later in the destruction of Jerusalem, when Christ was revealed as the true Temple for all people, even for Egypt.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor and co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 6.“I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” When Moses doubts himself, Exodus 6 responds with a genealogy. While Moses might not have been the best speaker, it was never about his ability; it’s about God’s promise. The genealogy shows the divine plan going from Levi to Moses & Aaron and then down to Phinehas, who helped capture Canaan. The priesthood is about the covenant of “I WILL BE.” God’s grace isn’t for the sake of rebellion, but rather for the inclusion of all people through Christ, who submitted to the authorities even as He loved God—and us—more than Himself.

Rev. Dr. David Adams, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 5.“O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?” Moses despairs in Exodus 5 because the Israelites went from believing in him to wishing he’d never shown up. This is exactly why Pharaoh increased the Israelites’ workload, to turn them against a potential rebel leader. All this however plays into God’s larger plan to save His people “in the sight” of everyone. He does no evil; rather He turns trouble into salvation, just as He did with His Son, who let Himself be lifted up by an oppressive regime in the sight of everyone.

Rev. William Cwirla, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hacienda Heights, California, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 4.“Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, 'Let my son go that he may serve me.'” Fatherhood is central to Exodus 4, whose poetry prepares the way for Father, Son, and Spirit. As Israel’s Father, God lovingly repeats His name to Moses, “I will be with your mouth and teach you what to say.” When Moses however fails to circumcise his own son, only the son’s blood can atone for him, a sign of Passover and eventually Easter. Israel’s mission is not one of disobedience, but a mission fulfilled in the atoning Christ who obeyed to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 3.Christ quotes Exodus 3 to prove the resurrection: even if we die, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is still our God. Moses is afraid of what he has seen, but God has seen Israel’s suffering and He “will be” with them. Yahweh means “He will be.” His name is pure love, grace, and promise, ultimately revealed in Christ who helps even the Gentiles to see the Triune God through His preaching, His cross, and His ascension.

Rev. Shawn Kumm, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Cody, Wyoming, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 2.“His sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.” Miriam takes center stage in Exodus 2 as the forerunner of Moses, serving God with faith and wisdom like their mother and the midwives. Most importantly, they see and serve as witnesses, like John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene after them. God will draw His sojourning people out of the water so that Egypt sees like Pharaoh’s daughter, not like the clandestine vigilantism of Moses. Similarly, God raised His Son for all to see, and His beautiful Son moves us to see and take pleasure in His new creation.

Rev. Dan Torkelson, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in North Prairie, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Exodus 1.“The people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly.” Exodus 1 flows seamlessly out of Genesis while also foreshadowing the confrontation with Pharaoh. Israel fulfills God’s commandment to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” even while serving the King of Egypt. Yet Pharaoh prefers “wisdom” over life, which will lead to disaster as in Genesis 3. But the midwives, even before Moses and the Apostles, boldly obey God rather than men. God’s blessing and promise could not be stopped, even as Christ the Word cannot be stopped.

Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v'Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 109.“May his days be few; may another take his office!” Psalm 109 only seems harsh or unforgiving when taken out of context. Although King David curses his betrayer, he does so not for his own benefit, but so that his betrayer’s reign of terror and oppression over Israel would come to an end. Similarly, Christ had no grudge against Judas, but the curse of the Cross was reversed to clothe God’s people in salvation and to clothe Jerusalem’s corruption in shame.