Nougat 19

Previously in the Great Exodus…

The Children of Israel were worried about the pursuing Egyptians, who were led by pharaoh. In fear, they yelled at Moses and began to doubt God, even to the point of desiring the old ways. As they cried out, God spoke to them through Moses, assuring them that they would be saved, and the Egyptians would no longer be a threat, so they need not fear. God gave Moses explicit instructions to follow, and preempted Moses by sending the angel of God and God’s Spirit as the rearguard between the Egyptians and the Children of Israel. Throughout the night, God separated the two from each other with a spiritual wall neither group could penetrate.

Was that enough to placate the Children of Israel?

What will Moses do now?

Perhaps we will find answers as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

Exodus 14:21-22 AFV

[21] And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

[22] And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground. And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

What Moses did

Siblings, God gave Moses very clear instructions:

A. Believe

B. Lift his hand

C. Point the rod over the waters so that the sea might divide

Moses did exactly that.

He had no room for doubt. God’s angel and Spirit serving as their rearguard was proof that God would do what God promised.

Self-Check

When God gives clear instructions in times of trouble, what is our initial response?

Application

Can you hear the Children of Israel asking Moses if he was crazy when they saw him lift his hand and point that rod? They hadn’t yet appreciated what the glory of the Lord could do, and they certainly hadn’t seen that fear happen before!

Imagine what could have happened if Moses had hesitated because he felt stupid lifting the rod. Or if he decided that he no longer wished to shepherd God’s people. True, Moses had irrefutable proof that God would come through; but he served a people whose trust quotient was in the negative. They trusted no one to keep promises, except the Egyptians, and that was learned behaviour.

But Moses’ obedience allowed God’s glory to be manifested exactly as God indicated – the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

[22] And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground. And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

It doesn’t really matter to me if the waters had done a similar separation before. The fact is, they separated in that moment when Moses stretched the rod forth over the waters! Yes, indeed.

The Children of Israel walked through the sea bed

On.

Dry.

Land!

Just as God promised. They saw God’s salvation.

The only thing left was the Egyptians, although technically they were not seeing them any longer because of the rearguard.

We must ask ourselves in difficult circumstances, are we the Children of Israel, i.e., a trifle mistrusting of others, or are we Moses, choosing to obey even when what God asks doesn’t make full sense? Before we respond, let’s be reminded that as Children of Israel, we can choose to change.

Point to Ponder

How will we respond when God asks the impossible of us?

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May all we seek be found in Christ