On a journey
SERMON SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 – EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
EXODUS 17:1-7, PSALM 78:1-4, 12-16
Today we hear from the people of Israel, being led by Moses through the wilderness towards the promised land.
How many of us remember taking family car trips on vacation? When I was young, we had a 1957 Ford Country Squire, a black woodie with red and white vinyl upholstery. I thought it was snazzy. For long trips, my daddy would put the middle and back seats down and make a soft mat in the space, for us to sit or lie down on as we traveled. This was way before seat belts! I used to prepare materials to play games with my three younger siblings. These were the days when the family stopped by the side of the road for potty breaks, and picnicked down country lanes. If she was in a hurry, my mother made sandwiches, but if she had time we were treated to her peerless fried chicken!
The Israelites were on a journey, a much longer one, and they traveled on foot. Scripture says they spent 40 years in the wilderness before entering the promised land of Canaan. Biblical scholars think approximately 600,000 adult males – that is at least 3 million people, counting women and children plus livestock – undertook the journey. If a person left Egypt at five years of age, he would be nearly forty by the end of the trip. All in all, a new generation was born and raised in the wilderness, camping, then breaking camp and moving on. Most of them had no first-hand memory of those dark days in Egypt, but the event was kept vividly in mind by narration, from elders to the younger ones. As Psalm 78 tells:\
That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us, *
we will not hide from their children.
We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *
and the wonderful works he has done.
Moses led the group with the help of his brother Aaron, and 70 elders. God provided what the wilderness lacked: quails and manna to eat and, as we see from this morning’s reading, water where least expected. But the journey was not smooth. It was full of uncertainties, a hostile environment, snakes and scorpions and enemy people, and fear. All the people knew was that there were many of them – possibly too many — the wilderness was empty, and they had no understanding of where they were going, or what lay ahead of them. It was frightening.
In contrast, American pioneers who journeyed across the North American continent had a goal. They knew there was land for them to farm, forests for them to cut. I know, we now justifiably take a dim view of deforestation, but in those days and in that place, forests supplied much of what was needed in terms of timber and game. A little like quails and manna. American pioneers were not confused about their endeavor and they followed in the footsteps of many who had gone before. Yes, we did this trampling over the peoples whose land it was that we settled. These are wrongs to lands and peoples that we as a nation are only now beginning to set right. This has been our American journey. It has unspooled over 500 years and it continues.
The reason it took so long for the Israelites to get to the Holy Land is that God did not lead them along caravan routes, which were direct and went through watered lands. God led them through difficult terrain. Their journey led south from Egypt along the entirety of the eastern coast of the Red Sea to Mount Sinai, in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Then they made an about-face and traveled all along the eastern lands of the Arabian Peninsula, formed a great loop and finally arrived at Mount Nebo, their entrance into the Land of Canaan. Altogether, Biblical scholars estimate that the people journeyed about 435 miles in stages, resting and sojourning for a time at each one.
Along the way, the people rebelled. Poor Moses, leadership is a lonely job. The only way Moses could succeed was by trusting God, who stayed faithfully with him. God helped him hold together the elders – imagine a seventy-member church vestry made up of twelve families! – and through them to keep the people willing and satisfied and healthy and strong and safe.
We must assume that, since God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and led them successfully past the Egyptian army, and through the Red Sea, he had plans for them. In fact, that’s what the prophets told the people to expect. Hear some prophetic messages, these from Isaiah, the same ones the Israelites heard were able to hear read from Scripture:
Isaiah 7:14 — Immanuel.
“Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel,” which means, God with us.
Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 — The child who brings light and peace.
Isaiah describes people “walking in darkness” who see “a great light,” followed by the famous promise:
“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us…
He will establish David’s throne “with justice and with righteousness.”
Isaiah 11:1–9 — The shoot from the stump of Jesse.
This is one of the clearest royal-messianic texts:
“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse…”
The Spirit of the LORD rests upon him—the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the LORD…Isaiah tells us what his reign will look like: justice for the poor, righteousness for the meek, and ultimately peace throughout creation.
In the most basic sense, God was forming a people who would know and trust him, and who would learn to expect and recognize and follow the messiah when Immanuel came to earth. The people would learn that life with God is a journey. That they and their children, and their children’s children would journey in covenant with God, vowing to follow God’s commandments and worshiping him only. They learned that life, while sometimes rugged, would always be under the shadow of God’s wing. They came to know that God is slow to anger and full of compassion. God is merciful and just. God is a god of bounty, not scarcity. And as Bishop Curry says, if it’s not about love, it’s not about God.
Let’s go back to those kids in the station wagon, journeying under the leadership and safety and provision of their parents. Or back to the American journey, where we continue to trust together in God’s leadership and safety and provision, however bumpy the ride may be.
Or let’s go back to the All Saints’ journey. I was able to witness some of your travels, as you called a rector, then fell apart from her, and went through a desert time with supply priests such as I attending to your Sunday needs, then found and called Tommy Drake. Thanks be to God!
During that desert time, you had no Moses leading you. Instead you had to rely on your vestry and search committee and each other, to bond more closely than before. Above all, there was Jesus to follow: you found out anew that God never fails, and that All Saints’ Church is precious to our Lord. I know that you prayed and exercised your Spirit-given gifts. Despite your occupation with parish concerns, you continued to serve the Southern Shores community. You never failed them, because you knew who and Whose you are. Now you are on a continuation of your road, with Father Tommy at the wheel. That is your Ford Country Squire. I have come to know and love the All Saints’ character. You are truly blessed, and your blessings reach others, including me.
THANKS BE TO GOD. Amen.
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Alternative ending for St. Francis:
Or let’s turn to the St. Francis journey. You had many priests and went through a desert time with supply priests attending to your Sunday needs, and no clear way forward. Then St. Francis and I found each other.
During that desert time, you had no Moses leading you. Instead you had to rely on your vestry and each other, to bond more closely than before. You held together because you love St. Francis Church. And, above all, there was Jesus to follow. You found out anew that God never fails, and that this church is precious to our Lord. I know that you prayed and exercised your Spirit-given gifts. Now we are on a continuation of our road, in our Ford Country Squire. Mile markers pass by as we grow learning to love as God loves. As we continue to grow in faith and serve with joy.
THANKS BE TO GOD. Amen.