On the Other Side of the Red Sea
Exodus 14:29-31: "But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses."
It is hard to fathom what the Israelites were thinking and feeling as they walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. Just as their enemies were about to overtake them, the Lord had Moses stretch his hand over the sea. Where once there was the barrier of the Red Sea, there was then a passage through the sea. After the Israelites safely arrived on the other side, the Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand again. This time, the waters came back into the sea, washing away the Egyptian army. The most powerful army of that day was conquered by the waters. Worldly power can never compare to God's power!
Just as Moses told the nation of Israel, God did fight for them. God had truly heard their cries; God did have a plan for their deliverance; God made a way for them to leave Egypt; and now God split the Red Sea providing their safe escape, then destroyed the army pursuing them. What kind of God is this? This is the Great "I Am"! This is the God who has called them to be his people.
For now, the nation of Israel will marvel and rejoice at God's work. They will believe in the Lord and in his servant Moses. On this side of the Red Sea, things look much better; their faith is more certain. Passing through the waters symbolized new life, a life of faith, freedom, and promise. Paul writes about this new life in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." The Lord wanted to heal the Israelites and to set them free from all the bondages of Egypt. He longed for them to live into the new life, and he now wants to work this healing, deliverance, and transformation in you.
Reflection:
Are you living that new life in Christ? If not, what holds you back? Will you surrender those hindrances to the Lord so that he can lead you into the fullness of the new life?
It is hard to fathom what the Israelites were thinking and feeling as they walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. Just as their enemies were about to overtake them, the Lord had Moses stretch his hand over the sea. Where once there was the barrier of the Red Sea, there was then a passage through the sea. After the Israelites safely arrived on the other side, the Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand again. This time, the waters came back into the sea, washing away the Egyptian army. The most powerful army of that day was conquered by the waters. Worldly power can never compare to God's power!
Just as Moses told the nation of Israel, God did fight for them. God had truly heard their cries; God did have a plan for their deliverance; God made a way for them to leave Egypt; and now God split the Red Sea providing their safe escape, then destroyed the army pursuing them. What kind of God is this? This is the Great "I Am"! This is the God who has called them to be his people.
For now, the nation of Israel will marvel and rejoice at God's work. They will believe in the Lord and in his servant Moses. On this side of the Red Sea, things look much better; their faith is more certain. Passing through the waters symbolized new life, a life of faith, freedom, and promise. Paul writes about this new life in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." The Lord wanted to heal the Israelites and to set them free from all the bondages of Egypt. He longed for them to live into the new life, and he now wants to work this healing, deliverance, and transformation in you.
Reflection:
Are you living that new life in Christ? If not, what holds you back? Will you surrender those hindrances to the Lord so that he can lead you into the fullness of the new life?
No Comments