Post by Les on Jun 23, 2023 13:43:37 GMT -5
God’s Mighty Power By: Lisa M. Samra
Click here for the Audio Message
When the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord . . . [they] put their trust in him.
Exodus 14:31
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Exodus 14:21–23, 26–31
The seemingly impossible happened when hurricane-force winds changed the flow of a mighty river. In August 2021, Hurricane Ida came ashore on the US coast, and the astonishing result was a ‘negative flow’ along the Mississippi River, meaning water actually flowed upriver for several hours.
Experts estimate that over its life cycle a hurricane can expend energy equivalent to ten thousand nuclear bombs! Such incredible power to change the course of flowing water helps me understand the Israelites’ response to a far more significant ‘negative flow’ recorded in Exodus.
While fleeing the Egyptians who’d enslaved them for centuries, the Israelites came to the edge of the Red Sea. In front of them was a wide body of water and behind them was the heavily armoured Egyptian army. In that seemingly impossible situation, “the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land . . . and the Israelites went through the sea” (Exodus 14:21–22). Rescued in that incredible display of power, “the people feared the Lord” (v. 31).
Responding with awe is natural after experiencing the immensity of God’s power. But it didn’t end there; the Israelites also “put their trust” in Him (v. 31).
As we experience God’s power in creation, we too can stand in awe of His might and place our trust in Him.
Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced a display of God’s power in creation? How did that lead to a greater trust in Him?
Creator God, please help me to trust You more when I see awesome displays of Your power.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Some critics attempt to read a contradiction into Exodus 14:21, claiming that it first says Moses parted the sea, and then the text says God did it. However, there’s no contradiction. It was God who commanded Moses, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water” (v. 16). God did something similar in Exodus 4, when Moses’ staff became a snake (vv. 2–4 ). God often used the staff or hand of Moses or Aaron to initiate the plagues (see chs. 7–10). But it was always God who accomplished these supernatural acts.
Tim Gustafson
Exodus 14:21-23
King James Version
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Exodus 14:26-31
King James Version
26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.
Click here for the Audio Message
When the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord . . . [they] put their trust in him.
Exodus 14:31
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Exodus 14:21–23, 26–31
The seemingly impossible happened when hurricane-force winds changed the flow of a mighty river. In August 2021, Hurricane Ida came ashore on the US coast, and the astonishing result was a ‘negative flow’ along the Mississippi River, meaning water actually flowed upriver for several hours.
Experts estimate that over its life cycle a hurricane can expend energy equivalent to ten thousand nuclear bombs! Such incredible power to change the course of flowing water helps me understand the Israelites’ response to a far more significant ‘negative flow’ recorded in Exodus.
While fleeing the Egyptians who’d enslaved them for centuries, the Israelites came to the edge of the Red Sea. In front of them was a wide body of water and behind them was the heavily armoured Egyptian army. In that seemingly impossible situation, “the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land . . . and the Israelites went through the sea” (Exodus 14:21–22). Rescued in that incredible display of power, “the people feared the Lord” (v. 31).
Responding with awe is natural after experiencing the immensity of God’s power. But it didn’t end there; the Israelites also “put their trust” in Him (v. 31).
As we experience God’s power in creation, we too can stand in awe of His might and place our trust in Him.
Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced a display of God’s power in creation? How did that lead to a greater trust in Him?
Creator God, please help me to trust You more when I see awesome displays of Your power.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Some critics attempt to read a contradiction into Exodus 14:21, claiming that it first says Moses parted the sea, and then the text says God did it. However, there’s no contradiction. It was God who commanded Moses, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water” (v. 16). God did something similar in Exodus 4, when Moses’ staff became a snake (vv. 2–4 ). God often used the staff or hand of Moses or Aaron to initiate the plagues (see chs. 7–10). But it was always God who accomplished these supernatural acts.
Tim Gustafson
Exodus 14:21-23
King James Version
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Exodus 14:26-31
King James Version
26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.