#DailyDevotion Seeing Isn’t Believing
Easter week 3 Saturday
Read Ex 40:17–38
Exo 40:34-38 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (35) And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (36) Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. (37) But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. (38) For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
What can we say? Seeing is not believing. The Israelites saw the cloud and fire at the tabernacle all the days they were in the wilderness. That did not stop them from worshipping a golden calf, grumbling against him, rebelling against Moses and a host of other infractions of God’s law.
God had given the Israelites a visible presence of his glory for the Israelites and that was not enough. Indeed, signs are a help and seal of faith, but faith comes from hearing the Word of God. Faith relies solely on the promises of God.
We see this in Jesus’ life. Many of the Jewish leaders saw the signs performed by Jesus and heard Jesus’ teaching. Because they did not believe Jesus’ teaching they did not believe the signs either.
You and I are called to believe Jesus and his Word. No amount or greatness of miracles will cause you to believe in Jesus and his work if you will not believe him simply on the Word of Promise. This is what Jesus has promised you: By his life he has earned you righteousness before God. By his death he has paid the penalty for your sin so you will not be held accountable before God the Father for them. By his resurrection and ascension he has conquered death and the power of the devil and makes intercession for you at the right hand of God. Now you can trust these promises or not but no image of Jesus in piece of French toast will cause you to believe.
Jesus has indeed given us signs to encourage and strengthen the faith of those who believe in him in his Word. These signs are baptism, in which he joins himself to us, makes us one body with him, washes away our sins, and gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. The other is his Supper, where he gives us his body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. In this sign he seals himself to us promising us perseverance in the faith unto life everlasting. But both of these require us to believe his Word of promise.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your Word of Promise which gives us eternal salvation. We thank you for Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to strengthen us in our faith. Ever give us your Word and Sacraments that we may endure in faith all the days of our life. Amen.