February 5 - Exodus 13:1-15:27

Good morning everyone,

Today we begin our reading with God speaking to Moses giving him a few instructions on how He wants the people of Israel to live. God wants the Israelites to sanctify all their firstborn to Him, that is to say, to dedicate or sacrifice them to the Lord to remind them of their deliverance out of slavery through the mighty hand of God. He also wants the Israelites to tell the story of their deliverance to their children, to pass it on from generation to generation. To help them remember, God instructed them to each year hold The Festival of Unleavened Bread to mark the Hebrews as unique people.

Now when God lead the people out of Egypt He chose not to take the shortest route which was through the Philistine territory knowing they were not yet ready to face that kind of confrontation, instead he took them on the “scenic route” so to speak, toward the Red Sea. I love how it was that God never left their side. He never left them out there in the desert alone. God was with them in the heat of the day covering them with a cloud to protect them from the harsh, scorching rays of the sun, and then at night once that sun went down and the dark brought the cold air upon them, God was there by way of fire to keep them warm. Like a young child who looks to their parents for reassurance, the Israelites looked for God to be there as their assurance they were going to be okay. 

It is not long, though, before their world gets rocked and they cry out to God “why?” Off in the distance they see a cloud of dust, and perhaps they can even feel the rumbling of the ground  beneath their feet as some 600 chariot riders, sent out from Pharaoh to recapture the Israelites, their freed slaves, is quickly closing the gap on them. In a panic they realize they have no where to run, they are trapped. Pharaoh’s army is on one side of them, the Red Sea is on the other and in a terrified state they go to Moses and ask him, “ Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt?” 

When Moses takes their complaint to God, He tells Moses, “Tell your people to get moving! Pick up your staff, divide the waters so that the israelites can walk through the middle!” Can you see Moses doing a double take? Thinking “You said … what?” Ha, ha, but Moses did as he was instructed and as we all know the Israelites did walk through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on either side of them while, we will read, Pharaoh’s guy will not be so blessed.

I don’t want it to go unnoticed that it was on “dry” ground that the Israelites walked through the sea. God never does anything half way. He always gives us the very best.  -  Also, take note that though God made a way through the seemingly impossible to allow the Israelites to safety, where they would be able to continue on their journey, it is important that we recognize that this hardship, this frightening moment was, as were told in 14:4 and 18, so that the Egyptians would see and know that He is Lord. That God is Almighty and powerful. God wanted the Egyptians to know Him. He wants the world to know Him. I believe what we should take from this is that, in those times when we are following God’s Word, doing all we believe we are suppose to do and still  “bad things happen to good people” we need to remember that the lesson isn’t always for us. It may have nothing at all to do with us. God may be wanting to speak to someone else through us. God is perhaps using you, using me, using us to demonstrate His power. Quite possibly we’re to be an example of what a Christian should look like when they trust in God’s perfect plan despite how painful or hard it can sometime be. Make sense?

One more thing, when the Israelites got to the other side, when they were safe, they praised God. While this is good, we should praise God, how much more awesome would it have been to, while in the trial, praise God with faith that He would see them through. Psalm 34:1 says

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” As against our human nature as it is, and how it is always so much easier said than down, we must practice praising God through our hard times, the valleys of our life, as well as when all seems to be going our way. He uses those hard times to sharpen us or sharpen someone else. He wants us to be prepared. He wants us to do well. He loves us!

So, are you going through something tough right now? I would encourage you to be a light in the world. Now is the time to let your light shine to bless those around you, those you don’t even know are watching. 

In Matthew 5:14, 16 Jesus told his followers, “You are the light of the world….Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.” ~ Amen?!

I pray you have a great day. To God be the glory.

God bless you all …