Monday, April 17, 2017
For
millennia Israel has celebrated Passover and the overcoming power of God that
elevates all who obey, and is the worst nightmare for those who oppose
God. This morning I would like for us to
listen once more to pure, unadulterated victory:
As Pharaoh
approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the
Egyptians overtaking them. They cried
out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you
bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we
were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us
alone! Let us be slaves to the
Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in
Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch
the Lord rescue you today. The
Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for
you. Just stay calm.” Then
the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over
the sea. Divide the water so the
Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the
Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through
Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. When my glory is displayed through them, all
Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” Then the angel of God, who had been leading
the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The
pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and
Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the
cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not
approach each other all night. Then
Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path
through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the
seabed into dry land. So the people of
Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water
on each side! Then the Egyptians—all of
Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the
sea. But just before dawn
the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and
cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making
their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s
get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them
against Egypt!” When all the Israelites
had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand
over the sea again. Then the waters will
rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his
hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but
the Lord swept them into the sea.
Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and
charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of
all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one
survived. But the people of Israel had
walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like
a wall on both sides. That is how
the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the
Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When
the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed
against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and
in his servant Moses. Exodus 14:10-31(NLT)
Then Miriam
the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they
played their tambourines and danced. And
Miriam sang this song:
“Sing to
the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and
rider into the sea.” Exodus 15:20-21(NLT)
For You Today
Every time I read this story,
or see it depicted in art or theatre, there is a sense of hushed holiness that
comes over my soul. Our God is an
awesome God!
NOTES
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