Thursday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Exodus 5:10-23

Verse 10. So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. Verse 11. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’” Verse 12. So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. Verse 13. The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” Verse 14. Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?” Verse 15. So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? Verse 16. No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” Verse 17. “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Verse 18. Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” Verse 19. The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” Verse 20. When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. Verse 21. “May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!” Verse 22. So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? Verse 23. Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

PSALM

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling— my refuge, the Most High—

no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent.

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent.

“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him.

When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

SECOND READING

Acts 7:30-34

Verse 30. After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. Verse 31. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him: Verse 32. ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. Verse 33. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Verse 34. I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’