In Exodus 14, God’s people stood stunned on the opposite shore of the Red Sea as they watched God cause the waves to come crashing in on the mighty armies of Egypt. Hebrews, Egyptians, slaves from other countries, they were all now irrevocably changed, they were now the nation of Israel, saved completely.
Plagues, Passover, Panic
Only a little over a year ago, they had been staggering under crushing captivity, enslaved to cruel oppressors, so discouraged they had lost all hope. Then came the plagues, God’s mighty contest with the gods of Egypt.
God won.
Just days before, they had slaughtered lambs, painted the blood on their doorposts, and huddled in their coats with their bags packed as God’s judgment passed through all of Egypt. They had listened to the frightened wails rising up from all those homes where a firstborn had died.
And then they had rushed out, plundered Egypt of its treasure, driven their herds and flocks ahead of them, no time to bake bread, they had to make haste.
They ran through the desert with God’s pillar of fire and cloud ahead of them. It had to have been surreal.
But the whole year had been weird.
Maybe for them ‘weird is the new normal.’
And then panic! “We are all going to die!” . . . but in the eleventh hour the Red Sea parts, people, flocks, herds, carts, they all pile through with Egypt’s armies thundering behind.
. . . then the roar of rushing waters, bigger than Niagara Falls . . .
And Oh That Sweet Release
It is exhausting just to think about it. These people had to have been wrung out.
It only makes sense they broke out into tearfully jubilant song, with Miriam and Moses their prophets, raising their voices and hands in glorious thanksgiving.
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