Daily Devotions
Exodus
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." Isaiah 43:2
Text: Exodus 14 : 26-28, 30-31
THE MIGHTY ARM OF THE LORD
The Egyptians were to discover one last time, just how powerful the God of the children of Israel really was! It would be a lesson learned too late!
“Then the LORD said to Moses,
‘Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters
may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots,
and on their horsemen.'”
EXODUS 14:26
It all seemed so simple. The mere stretching of an arm, and the sea parted for a whole multitude of people to cross on dry ground! Another command to stretch out an arm, and the waters would return to their original state!
THE HUMILIATING DEFEAT OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY
Moses did not hesitate a second! He had just witnessed a spectacular miracle! How could he not believe what God had just said to him?
“And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea;
and when the morning appeared, the sea returned
to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it.
So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen,
and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them.
Not so much as one of them remained.”
EXODUS 14:27-28
The mighty army of Egypt was annihilated! Pharaoh would have to rebuild his army! His famed and powerful chariots were all destroyed! He was responsible. He had sent his men to their death!
A LESSON NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
The children of Israel had crossed the sea safely. There were no mishaps! But their pursuers, the Egyptians who had chased after them with the intention of enslaving them once again had all perished in the same sea!
“So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead
on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD
had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed
the LORD and His servant Moses.”
EXODUS 14:30-31
How could anyone forget that fateful day? The Lord had done “a great work” once again, as He did when He afflicted His enemies in Egypt! What would be a truly appropriate response? The children of Israel were right to “fear the Lord” and to “believe in Him”. It would also not hurt to have a higher regard for His servant Moses!