Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

(A psalm of praise.)

The Lord Is God

Moses Returns to Egypt

¹⁸ Moses went to his father-in-law Jethro and asked, “Please let me return to Egypt to see if any of my people are still alive.”

“All right,” Jethro replied. “I hope all goes well.”

¹⁹ But even before this, the Lord had told Moses, “Leave the land of Midian and return to Egypt. Everyone who wanted to kill you is now dead.” ²⁰ So Moses put his wife and sons on donkeys and headed for Egypt, holding the walking stick that had the power of God.

²¹ On the way the Lord said to Moses:

When you get to Egypt, go to the king and work the miracles I have shown you. But I will make him so stubborn that he will refuse to let my people go. ²² Then tell him that I have said, “Israel is my first-born son, ^23 (A) and I commanded you to release him, so he could worship me. But you refused, and now I will kill your first-born son.”

Jesus Is Greater than Moses

3 My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest! ^2 (A) Jesus was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in serving all^[a] God's people. ³ But Jesus deserves more honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves more honor than the house. ⁴ Of course, every house is built by someone, and God is really the one who built everything.

⁵ Moses was a faithful servant and told God's people what would be said in the future. ⁶ But Christ is the Son in charge of God's people. And we are those people, if we keep on being brave and don't lose hope.