Exodus 14:5-31The great scene. Even after Pharaoh watched the entire nation's first born eliminated, and was brought to his knees by God, after he relented and let the Hebrew slaves go, he changes his mind. Mighty Egypt cannot be one-upped by a bunch of slaves. Leading his army after the Hebrews camped in the most un-strategic of locations - beside a body of water that left no escape route - the Red Sea (or Reed Sea?).
The Israelites who walked through the streets of Egypt with raised fists, just as quickly start whining that it would have been better to be slaves in Egypt than die in the wilderness.
God's chosen people.
Patient God tells Moses to use that great miracle staff as a sea divider. He holds it up and the sea parts and God's people cross through dry land. When they get across, the waters close back in on Pharaoh's pursuing army - the last might of a nation destroyed. All kinds of documentaries talk about how Moses created such a feat. Fun stuff. But not sure how it adds or subtracts from the story.
Our story.
Do you claim this story as yours? Tony shared about how that Jewish Passover meal was given new meaning by Jesus and given to all of us. Our weekly meal is a reminder of God's liberation. Our baptism liturgy reminds us that we too have passed through the waters - from slavery (in sin) to freedom (in Christ.)
God liberates. God rescues. God delivers. And this story is our story. He knocks down the proud and the powerful and lifts up the weak and the humble. This story is our story.
Moses is looking pretty good for 80 . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment