When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that 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. Exodus 14:31
Have you ever had that moment where God came through for you? It could have been a moment where you didn't know how you were going to pay your bills, and then suddenly, a check showed up that covered the exact amount. It might have been the diagnosis was bleak, but God sent you the specialist at the right time that intervened to save your life. That God moment might have been that you had a boss who treated you poorly and without responding in anger, you committed to pray for them, and they were moved into a new role. God is able to fight for His people.
After the Israelites had walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, the Egyptians decided to pursue them. They took their army of chariots into the middle of the waters that were parted. When the Israelites were out of danger, God released the water that was held back. The army of the Egyptians was swept away by the hand of God. The people stood on the shore of the Red Sea in awe as God delivered them from their enemies. It is at this point in their journey that they put their confidence and faith in the Lord and the leadership of Moses.
They begin to trust that Moses is following the one true God. Instead of trying to figure out which way to go, they are following God for directions. Instead of leading themselves and going their own way, they are trusting that God has a plan. For the Israelites, this is like being in the passenger seat when another person drives. When you are a passenger, you have to trust that the driver knows exactly where they are going and that a map of some sort informs their directions. The Israelites had confidence in God, and they chose to follow Him.
As you think through the trust of the Israelites, think about your own life. Are you trusting that God has a plan for your life and following His lead? That is a hard question because many of us would rather go our own way, insisting that we drive and lead ourselves on this epic road trip of life. When we take the wheel, it only leads to a path filled with pain. When we follow His lead, we are filled with hope, and we get to see His hand at work daily in our circumstances.
When I was 15 years old, I couldn't wait to get my driver's permit because it was permission to drive. I couldn't wait to move from being a passenger to driving. I wanted the keys to what I believed was my own freedom. Once I got that privilege and responsibility, I had a sense of control. What we miss is that God gives us the keys to our own life. He says you can live any way you want. The true test for His followers is when we put our trust in Him and give Him the keys. Have you given the keys of your life to God, or are you still driving? Take some time to think through and to process that question in your journal.
Read Exodus 14:23-31 (NLT)
Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that 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.
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