Yesterday we focused primarily on the Egyptians. While they featured strongly in God’s rescue plan, the story is not only about them. It helps to remember that this is God’s story, God is the protagonist, and all others are supporting actors to the unfolding action. Since the Egyptians had been pursuing the Children of Israel, it may be helpful to revert to what happened next to the Children. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Exodus 14:29-30 AFV
[29] But the children of Israel walked upon dry land through the middle of the sea. And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
[30] So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.
What God Did
Have you ever read the book, ‘What Katy Did’? It was actually written in the 1870s and recounts the life of a rambunctious tomboy who faced a debilitating injury. I won’t say much more about the book, except that it is a worthwhile read for all, and to note that the book is about Katy in relation to other characters.
What if we recalled that the Bible is about God, YHWH, in relationship with all creation and others? Of course, God isn’t rambunctious, although God does have a sense of humour.
When we look at God’s dramatic rescue of the Children of Israel, we do not doubt that this is God’s story.
Please note, the Children of Israel walked on dry land; not one life was lost in the Red Sea! Yet, behind them, every single Egyptian in pursuit of them perished in the waters! It was the same sea, at almost the same time, but with a far different outcome. The difference, God’s presence was with one group and not the other.
In creating that barrier between the Children of Israel and the pursuing Egyptians, God made the impossible possible. We are told that the Cloud of God moved to form that rearguard behind the Hebrews. We now realize that God’s Cloud created enough distance so that one group safely escaped, while the other group didn’t.
It may be hard to hear. In this action, we realize that God not only kept God’s promise to the Hebrews, but God allowed the Egyptians to face the consequences of their greed. This was after 400+ years of affording them opportunities to repent. For the most part, they didn’t.
I guess then, that in ‘hardening’ Pharaoh’s heart, God actually gave the Egyptians over to their desires. Put differently, God exposed what was already on Pharaoh’s heart. It’s what Y’shua did with Judas in John 13:27, by telling him, ‘Whatever you’re doing, do it quickly.’
Application
Siblings, God loves us and desires the best for us. But God is bound by God’s own nature to allow us to choose our response to God. After that, having given us opportunities to accept God’s salvific grace, is on us.
God can and does save us from the traps and oppression others set for us. Usually, it is after God has offered or oppressors (and us when we’re wrong) several opportunities to change. Today, let’s choose to look for evidence of God’s salvific work in our lives, and also the opportunities God creates for us and/or others to repent of sinful action.
Our response should be gratitude for salvation and repentance when we’re wrong.
Point to Ponder
May we be thankful for all God has done for us, today.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
