The best sermons are those when the Preacher speaks to himself or herself. For if he or she deals with the concerns and matters of the heart—those words are likely to go out to everybody.
And this Memorial Weekend I wish I could talk about fireworks and flags flying and parades and how great everything is in our country. But I can’t do that today.
A Strange Story
But I stumbled on to a story that might just help me and you, too. Numbers 13-14 tell the story of Moses and his people. Years before they had fled Egypt and slavery and struck out on a journey. It must have been a brave or desperate bunch. They crossed the Red Sea which seemed impossible. And then they wandered in the wilderness for years and years. Many of them wanted to choose a new leader and head back to Egypt. For in that wilderness day after day and year after awful year they faced seemingly impossible dangers. Fear. Scorpions. Sickness. Mean and scary tribes at every stop along the way. They would cut your throat in a minute. Think of the terrible heat and the awful winters.
But some of them remembered that God had promised these ex-slaves a new land, a place flowing with milk and honey. Freedom for them and their families. A promised land somewhere out there. They dreamed of such a place when their children cried in the dark. Hungry. When they fought or encountered obstacle after obstacle. When they buried their dead in the desert. When they hated Moses.
Good News
Finally…finally they were told that the promise land was not very far off. But, guess what? That new land was inhabited with whole tribes of people. Deadly. Foreigners who did not know their God. Mean. Deadly. How could they possibly take this place God had promised. So Moses chose twelve men and sent them out to spy the lands and bring back a report. Days later they came back. Telling the people this truly new land was really flowing like milk and honey. Why they came back with grapes and pomegranates and all sorts of fruits on their shoulders.
Bad News
Then the bad news. Numbers says: Yet the people who live there are strong, their towns are fortified and very large. And if that was not enough there were giants there. Huge. The tallest people they had ever seen. Called the sons Anak.
And the stragglers began to murmur. Ten of the twelve spies said there is no way we can take that land. No way. But Numbers says Caleb and Joshua calmed the people down. It took a long time. But they said Yes, there are giants in that land but God has led us all the way. Yes. Will he turn his back on us? We will go ahead and take that land. Yes. God has promised. Yes—he said we can do it. But those 10 spies the majority said: are you crazy there are giants in the land and they will devour us all. There are too many people. We are out numbered. No, no, no we cannot do this.
And on those two little words hung their future. Yers or No. Would they face a locked door—big and heavy they could not open. Or would they come together and push that door open to this new land. Yes or No. What would it be? And we now know the rest of that story.
And I lay down that story beside us on this Memorial Day weekend. Memorial means to remember. All those thru the years that served this country. And made it better. All those Mamas and Papas and friends that lifted us up and carried us along and made us better. All those in this church from 1789 until today. So many through these years I am sure they must have said: We can’t do that. Impossible. Are you crazy. No. No.
But you are still here and so am I. “Through many dangers toils and snares we have already come. This grace that has led us far and grace will lead us home.”Some preachers here hung on to that. Yes. Some Elders hung on to that. Yes. And people with all sorts of burdens have come here year after year after year or this church would not be here today. Yes.
Wilbur and Orville
But the no’s are pretty strong. There were two brothers that lived in Dayton, Ohio. And they kept looking at the skies and the birds that just kept coming. And they talked among themselves wouldn’t it be something if we could fly up there like the birds. So they began to try all kinds of experiments. Some were successful and some were downright failures. But these two weird men not too handsome—eccentric…had big ears and kept to themselves—but they began to build what they called gliders. And finally they took all their supplies and left Dayton for North Carolina. They were told the coast would be a good place to try out their dreams. And so they came to Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. And they kept trying to do something up there in the skies. Back home gossip of course was everywhere in their hometown of Dayton. And people began to mutter: “Well, somebody might be able to fly but it shore won’t be nobody from Dayton,Ohio” But on December 17, 1903 near Kitty Hawk they completed the first powered flight aiming up into those skies. And we know the rest of the story.
Folks can’t you see a little of that story in Numbers where they were told there were giants in the land. Every step in our nation’s history there have been a whole lot of No’s. Some days it looked like the No’s would have the day.
Giants In Our Land
We have our no’s today. I don’t know a time when this country has been so negative and afraid. This cursed virus has taken away one million of Americans. And I am told behind those million there are at least nine people they left behind that are grieving today. That’s close to 9 million people. 19 kids and two of their teachers shot down in Texas. Ukraine with all its heartbreak and devastation. And we cannot seem to get things done in Washington. I don’t watch much the news today. I turn on the tv in the morning and minutes later I turn it off. Read your history. Read the Good Book. We have been here before and before and before. And good Christians looked around and said No. We are going down the tubes. And people all over this country have just shook their heads in despair. No. No. No.
Hope
But I keep remembering that story in Numbers. It is our story too. There were giants in the land and some looked ten feet tall. No we can’t go in—they will kill us all. But two out of twelve—the minority— Caleb and Joshua kept saying over and over,. With God’s help we can take that land. God has promised us. Yes…yes…yes.
We can’t do it fighting one another and accusing each other. Saying over and over it is hopeless. But we remember this story and remember our nation’s history. No and Yes. No and Yes.
And who knows. Part of the story might just be with a group of people in Pendleton, South Carolina. Who said yes…because even through all our ups and downs we remember those stragglers in the wilderness and we remember two strange men from Dayton, Ohio.. And we have hope because God has told us over and over “I will be with you.” And as the Psalm says: “Even through we walk through the darkest valleys thou will be with me.” Yes…Yes…Yes. Thanks be to God.
(This sermon was preached on Memorial Day Weekend at the First Presbyterian Church, Pendleton, South Carolina May 29, 2022)
--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com
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