"Thus says the Lord, who makes a way through the sea and path through the mighty waters, who brings for the chariot and the horse, the army and the mighty man (They will lie down together and not rise again, they have been quenched and extinguished like a wick): "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth' will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise." (Isaiah 43:16-21 NASB1995)
The good doctor sent this scripture before the sun rose on Thursday morning. We’ve talked about what it feels like to stand at the seashore and wait for the waters to part. She is a constant encouragement to me and I took the text to heart.
The Red Sea was a formative experience for the Israelites; it developed both a dependency and awe of God that they would refer to for generations to come. Our Red Sea moments are much the same: mission-critical baptisms, birthing a theology that cannot be formed by lesser means.
God specializes in taking people through places they could not go part from Him. Noah through the flood. Abram out of Ur and into fatherhood. Joseph into Egypt. Moses out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Joshua into Canaan. It is in these impossible journeys where we learn the things we need to know.
Red Sea moments without God-reliance will bring down mighty men. Another word for mighty is prideful. If we successfully make it to the other side, it’s because we’ve humbled ourselves amidst the seabed scramble. We’ve had to leave our independence on the far side of the shore. Those that don’t, drown amidst the returning waters. The men who refused the humbling (the Egyptians) were washed away. They never set foot in freedom’s sands.
The Israelites could not lean on their past. They could not return to Egypt. To even consider it was dangerous to their future. (We’ll see that temptation rise up, again.) Instead, they needed to focus on what God was doing next.
The Israelites had to operate in trust. Their God was making a way where there was no way. He was going to provide where there was no provision. Water in the desert. Manna on the ground. Divine intervention to hold off the enemy. His provision and protection would prove to be an extraordinary template of trust for generations to come.
The result all this miraculous activity? A people formed for Himself. A people who lived and breathed and moved in trust. A people who praised Him in all circumstances and conditions. A fulfillment of His stated and perfect will: that they would be His people and He would be there God.
"In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation." (Exodus 15:13 NASB1995)
I got a little giggle over this modern interpretation of the Red Sea crossing.
It does put the Israelites’ terror and courage into proper perspective.
Lord, we aren’t crazy about Red Sea moments. It’s quite humbling to stand against the waters with the enemy breathing at our back. Stir up our hope as we meditate on the Israelites testimony. With the long lens of history, we can see how this encounter set them up for future relationship with You. We can trust that You are accomplishing similar things in our story. Help us continue to sit still and wait on Your next instruction, certain of the glory Your due. Remind us that Red Sea moments move us forward in becoming Your people. Amen.