READ: EXODUS 14: 15-31
When the people of Israel saw the mighty power, 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. (V. 31)
The athletes in their starting blocks wait anxiously for the gun to go off signaling the start of the race. You can almost feel the adrenaline pulsing through every inch of their bodies. They focus all of their energy on the race ahead knowing that hundredths of a second makes the difference between winning and losing. Looking to get the ultimate edge, they try to anticipate the starting gun, and some get moving before it sounds. The result—race restart! They would have to go through their pre-race routine to regain their competitive focus.
The parting of the Red Sea marked a “Restart” for the people of Israel. They were freed from 400 years of slavery in Egypt and embarking on a journey of freedom. The slow and ponderous journey soon turned into a race as Pharoah changed his mind. He and his army were in hot pursuit to either kill them or bring them back into captivity. Lacking faith and trust in the Lord and their leader Moses, they panicked as the Egyptian army moved within striking distance. Faced with people wild with fear, Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord’s response—”get the people moving! I did not bring them out of slavery to die on the banks of the Red Sea.”(Vs.15-16). God’s intervention altered the nature of the race so that the people of Israel, and Egypt, would know the “Great I Am” was in total control of the situation. His Chosen People were given a path of victory through piled up walls of water while the Egyptians experienced defeat and a watery grave. Faith, trust and obedience set a firm foundation for the founding of a nation and our Judeo-Christian Heritage.
Life often finds us facing our own “Red Sea Moments.” At some point, we have faced a daunting barrier blocking our path. These barriers come in many forms, such as disease/illness, economic downturns and relational break-ups. We get tense, angry, frustrated and disillusioned and begin seeking our own way through, over or around the waters of despair that are piled before us. Indeed, we try to get a jump start on the problem by quickly trying to resolve things our way. Inevitably this leads to floundering and sinking. But, when we humbly and sincerely seek God’s guidance knowing that he is greater than any doubt or fear we may have, we set the stage for a much-needed restart. Quietly seeking Him; waiting patiently for His response; and trusting in His leadership for our lives will keep our spiritual feet dry and on firm ground!
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Who do you trust to part the seas of destress in your life?
Dear God, help me keep my focus on you and totally trust the “GREAT I AM” who parts seas.