“Then Moses an the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. Both horse and driver, He has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him.” (Exodus 15:1-2 NIV)
Moses and his people sang out a victory song when they got to the other side of the sea and the enemy washed away. It’s a whole lot easier to praise God when our troubles have suddenly become past tense.
I wonder, though, what might happen if we started singing today? Can we lift our voices in praise while the waters are still piled up and the sky is dark and the enemy is actively giving chase?
I say ‘yes’ because God doesn’t change. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) The God who saw the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea is the same God who will carry us up out of the coronavirus and I am going to go ahead and give Him the glory right now. No matter how this scenario plays out, believers have a secure place setting at His table in heaven and we will see a victory, so I’m going to start singing while it’s still dark. I’m going to sing in advance of the washing away of the enemy. I’m going to life my voice before I can crawl up on the other bank because I am sure my God is able.
A few years ago my husband gave a sermon about living in Babylon. He compared the Israelites stint on foreign soil to our longing for a heavenly home. He framed it this way:
“We won’t live in Babylon forever. We will go Home. He will fully restore us. Sadness and sorrow and sighing will be done. You may as well start singing now.” (Rob Thoreson)
He’s absolutely right. We might start singing. And here’s just the tune to put in your pocket for today’s quarantine adventures:
“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)
Lord, we thank You for Your salvation even before we see can it. We look to Your track record: in our own lives and in the lives of countless believers before us. We are confident that You are able. We choose to lift our voices today, before we stand on the other side of this storm. We’ll sing while we are still picking our way across the seabed and even while the enemy is yet advancing. You deserve the praise regardless of our outcome. We give You glory now, our God and Savior. Amen.