Reshaped: Day 5- Moses
Perseverance
Reading Exodus 14
The final plague over Egypt was the death of the firstborn children. Pharaoh furiously ordered Moses to gather the Israelites and leave immediately. But it didn’t take long for Pharaoh’s heart to harden again, and he quickly changed his mind. He rallied all of the captains of his army and readied his best chariots to bring the Israelites back to Egypt.
Picture with me some 600,000 Israelites traveling in caravans through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. An angel of the Lord protected them with cloud cover by day and a pillar of fire by night. As they neared the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s chariots gained ground. The Israelites panicked. Their fears overshadowed the miracles they had witnessed. They lashed out at Moses for bringing them into the wilderness to be killed. Little did they know, God had the greatest miracle in store.
God instructed Moses to stretch out his staff over the water. Just then, the water parted, creating a dry pathway down the center. A wall of water on each side created hedging for the Israelites to cross the sea.
When the Egyptians arrived at the Red Sea embankment, they pursued the Israelites through the miraculous pathway God had created. But this miracle was not for Pharaoh and his army. It was a miracle set for the Israelites only. As the Egyptians crossed into the sea, God released the hedging. Mighty waters rushed around the Egyptians, swallowing the entire army, including Pharaoh. In one fell swoop, Israel’s enemies were no more.
No longer did the Israelites have to look over their shoulder in fear of the Egyptians. God’s miraculous hand of protection brought an end to Pharaoh’s tyranny.
It is understandable that faith is something that must be “built.” We are creatures of the natural realm. Miracles stand outside the natural. They are delivered through the invisible hand of God. But though we are flesh and bone, we are also spirit creatures. Our faith in God’s unseen presence, when nurtured and developed, shapes eyes to see and ears to hear beyond what we experience in the natural.
Picture with me some 600,000 Israelites traveling in caravans through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. An angel of the Lord protected them with cloud cover by day and a pillar of fire by night. As they neared the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s chariots gained ground. The Israelites panicked. Their fears overshadowed the miracles they had witnessed. They lashed out at Moses for bringing them into the wilderness to be killed. Little did they know, God had the greatest miracle in store.
God instructed Moses to stretch out his staff over the water. Just then, the water parted, creating a dry pathway down the center. A wall of water on each side created hedging for the Israelites to cross the sea.
When the Egyptians arrived at the Red Sea embankment, they pursued the Israelites through the miraculous pathway God had created. But this miracle was not for Pharaoh and his army. It was a miracle set for the Israelites only. As the Egyptians crossed into the sea, God released the hedging. Mighty waters rushed around the Egyptians, swallowing the entire army, including Pharaoh. In one fell swoop, Israel’s enemies were no more.
No longer did the Israelites have to look over their shoulder in fear of the Egyptians. God’s miraculous hand of protection brought an end to Pharaoh’s tyranny.
It is understandable that faith is something that must be “built.” We are creatures of the natural realm. Miracles stand outside the natural. They are delivered through the invisible hand of God. But though we are flesh and bone, we are also spirit creatures. Our faith in God’s unseen presence, when nurtured and developed, shapes eyes to see and ears to hear beyond what we experience in the natural.
Questions
- The Israelites lived in Egypt for approximately 400 years. The Israelites suffered greatly under Pharaoh’s leadership. Their cries reached God and He responded.
- Have you noticed that when prayers are heartfelt that it is easier to distinguish God’s answers?
- Why are we more aware of God’s presence when He answers our desperate prayers? What makes our hearts more pliable?
- At times God pulls back the veil between heaven and earth and allows us to see His activity with greater clarity. When have you witnessed with your spiritual eyes God’s divine hand at work?