Image from stjohnsbb.org.nz
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.’ So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. (Exodus 14:19-31)
This is one of the most awesome stories in the Old Testament. Finally freed from slavery, the people of God flee Egypt and come to a large body of water. It seems like there is no way out. If they stand still, they will be captured. If they run towards the Egyptian army, they will be killed. Yet, they had signs that God was with them and going before them, and with them. They had the angel of God in front, and the pillar of cloud also with them; signs that God is with us. And while the signs were there the army could not touch them. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the waters split open, with a highway of dry land between the waters, on which the people could walk. However long it took, the Jews were fine. In came the enemy behind them, and then God allowed the waters to close over the Egyptians and they were no more. Israel counted this as a "great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians." And yet again, they came to believe in God and in God's servant, Moses.
I still chuckle at the discussions we had in OT class about the possible explanations for why this could have happened. "Not really an ocean, more like a creek..." or "It was the dry season and thus their ability to walk across this short body of water..." Okay. But here's how I see it. We come up against closed doors all the time in our lives. Or situations that seem un-winnable. And as we pray we begin to see the answer to our prayers open those doors or to move the situation from an un-winnable position to a win-win opportunity. I remember that in other places of the Bible, God declares that He fights for His own. And I still believe God is fighting for us in whatever we find ourselves facing. Illness? Job stress? Academic challenges and deadlines? No matter the "army" that is chasing you, ask God to help you fight and win over it.
PRAYER: Loving God, I lift up *|FNAME|* and whatever army is after them. I pray Your mighty hand give *|FNAME|* the victory and the peace to await that victory; in Jesus' mighty name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Be still and let God fight for you!
Eradio Valverde
