Wednesday, December 7

FOOTSTEPS ACROSS THE SEA

Exodus 14

The story of the Red Sea crossing is about a journey of faith, starting from doubt and unbelief, to believing, trusting and praising the Lord. The children of Israel chose to go God’s way. In this story, the Egyptians chose to go their way, even in the midst of a miracle of God, and they paid for it with their lives—and for eternity. Let us choose to go God’s way!

In Exodus 14, the Lord speaks to Moses, telling him that He will be leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. They begin their journey and end up at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s massive army chasing them. This frightened the children of Israel and they questioned Moses, “because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (vs. 11) This sarcastic remark showed their lack of faith that God would keep His promise of deliverance. However, Moses encouraged the people in verses 13-14, “do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Moses basically said to them, “Quit complaining because things don’t seem to be going how you think they should. Trust God, because He is in control and He does not break His promises.” How many times in our lives do we question God? When are things not going quite how we want them to, and we blame God and think that He is just “leaving us in the wilderness to die?”

What happened next is an amazing miracle of God. Moses stretched out his hands and the Lord caused the waters to be divided, making a way for the Israelites to cross on dry ground. However, the Egyptians were still following them—but God wasn’t done yet! In verses 27-29, it says that the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea…not so much as one of them remained. The Israelites had seen the salvation of the Lord. “Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.”(vs. 31) The Israelites started out in doubt, but as they continued in steps of faith across the sea, they reached shore and believed and praised the Lord. The phrase, “Believed the Lord,” used in verse 31, is the same wording used of Abraham’s saving faith in Genesis 15:6. As we continue reading in Exodus 15, we see Moses and the children of Israel singing praise to the Lord for, “He has triumphed gloriously!” (vs. 1) “Triumphed gloriously” is an emphatic expression of exuberant joy over God's great victory. Praise God for His victory over the enemy!

Leave your life of doubt and unbelief, “cross the Red Sea,” and enter a life of believing, trusting, and praising the Lord. Then you will surely have a glorious Christmas, full of exuberant joy and victory in Jesus!

~ Jillian Krauser