The Red Sea
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. Exodus 14:13-14
Fear is gripping. The children of Israel finally made it out of Egypt and now they’re facing a huge body of water ahead of them and the Egyptian army behind. Death is imminent. The people are afraid, so after crying out to God, they begin to grumble and blame Moses. Moses’ responded with the best leadershipy- type leadership that any leader would lead with. He told them to stand still and don’t be afraid. He explained how they wouldn’t even have to fight. He told them to hold their peace. Such a great word as a leader, right? Words from God’s heart to Moses’s lips.
The next few words of the next verse jump out at me, though… And the Lord said to Moses, why do YOU cry to me?
Could it be that the leader was just as afraid as those he’s leading? Yes, He knows what God said He would do. He has seen God work in the past, right? You know, with the 10 plagues and the whole leading them out of Egypt thing?
We’ve been talking about the power of God.
As you know, Moses did just as God instructed him to do. He stretched out His rod and the sea divided. The children of Israel crossed through the water. They were kept completely from harm while the Egyptian army drowned behind them.
God worked despite the grumbling, questioning, and fear. He worked in the midst of a leader’s cry. God worked with the one thing Moses had going for him- obedience. Moses did exactly what God asked him to do. Even though Moses was afraid, Moses obeyed.
Even though Moses was afraid, Moses obeyed.
God is powerful. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same God who parted the Red Sea can reveal His power in the circumstances of our lives. It required a leader’s compliance despite the presence of fear. God will work with any little nugget of faith or obedience we have to accomplish His will.
God is powerful. Isn’t it great to be reminded of just how powerful a God we serve? He is working in the middle of our circumstance with the same power He used parting the sea. Today I plan on living in His obedience.
How will you devote2day?