Thursday, March 20, 2025

Today's Scripture
Exodus 3:18; 14:15–31

“They will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’”

...

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.” The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. (NRSV)

Reflection

The Israelites were exhausted, tested, and tired. Our story picks up just three months into their forty-year exodus from Egypt toward the Promised Land. The beginning of their escape was in Rephidim, which provided a resting place before their wandering began. But in this resting place they could find no water and complained so violently that their leader Moses feared for his life and turned to God for a solution.

Three months. Thank God they couldn’t see the forty-year journey ahead of them. I have seen friends go through some monumental shifts in their lives recently. In the first three months, they were motivated by anger, outrage, and adrenaline. Then those feelings wore off, and a sense of hopelessness set in.

It is at this point in the exodus that God calls to Moses from the mountain, telling him what to share with the Israelites. Let’s listen to thoses words now: “You have seen what I have done. I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.”

Is God talking to me? Do I bear some responsibility in this covenant set up by God? Eek! I’d better review the contract! I believe God is saying “I have done these things. The earth is mine. For me to be your God, and for you to be my people, you should act as if you are a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. Be my representatives (my priests) in the world, and be a holy nation (completely and exclusively devoted to God).”

A tall order! Instead of wringing my hands in worry, perhaps I should fulfill my end of this covenantal relationship.

Prayer
Dear God, give me the willingness to act as if you are my God, and I am your child. Amen.

Written by Katy Sinclair, Associate Director of Music for Children and Youth

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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