Week 4 (Moses & the Exodus) – Day 5: Crossing the Red Sea

Day 20 – Crossing the Red Sea - Exodus 13:17-14:31

Pharaoh has a change of heart and pursues the Israelites.  In this entire chapter God is the actor, even with Pharaoh:  “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” (v. 14:4)  As with the plagues, God takes action so that Egypt, the most powerful country in the world, knows who is really in control.  Egypt relies on military power to control a wide swath of the Middle East.  What do you have in your own life that God may want to reveal as a powerless idol?

I think the most intriguing verses of this reading are the probably overlooked verses 14:10-14.  The Israelites, in this early stage of freedom, face a crisis.  The response is to desire to return to the past, even as terrible as it was: “…For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  (v. 12) They will express this desire over and over as they travel toward the Promised Land.  It is amazing, even after seeing miracle after miracle, and receiving God’s sustenance, the mass of Israelites will declare a desire to return to servitude rather than life in God’s freedom.  How often do we stick with the tried and true, even if we know it is wrong, or simply comfortable, rather than trust God to move us in a new direction?  What are you holding onto, or possibly return to over and over, rather than move forward in the direction God desires for you? 

Moses’ response is a great model for all of us:  “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”  (vv. 13-14)  As we face difficulties, we try to over function, rather than step back and allow God to act.  It is a very difficult thing to do, especially for those of us who are Type A’s and have a great set of God given skills!  How often do we “fix” something, rather than let God act and bring a much deeper restoration to the situation?

The battle with the Egypt ends.  The mighty empire is no match for God.

I know some of you are reading the “in-between” sections.  I highly recommend Chapter 15, as this poetic retelling of the escape is considered some of oldest written Hebrew we have. 

In Christ,

Randy