AELW 4:66
Genesis 21:18 "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation."
Accordingly, he (God) has now restored Christian liberty to the woman who previously had been excommunicated and had been made a prisoner, as it were. God could have spoken with her as He does on Mt. Sinai, but the woman who had already been frightened previously could not have borne the voice of His majesty.
God shows the same kindness toward us. He speaks with us through the ministry of men and in this manner conceals His majesty, which is dreadful and unbearable for us. But because the ministry is too lowly and familiar, the pastors themselves, in the first place, and then God Himself, are despised in the ministry and all but trodden underfoot. But there will come a time when God, who humbles Himself in this manner for the sake of our salvation, will display His majesty and crush the smug scorners. Therefore let us recognize His exceedingly great and incalculable gift: that He emptied Himself in this manner and took on human form. Let us not on this account despise the Word; but let us fall on our knees and honor and prize the holy ministry through which God deigns to speak to us."
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