We’ve advanced so much though haven’t we, we’ve travelled so far down the road of time that these things are just history studies aren’t they? China/Nepal, USA/Cuba, Former Soviet Union/Balkans, Colonial America/Indigenous Population and Immigrants. No, we’re a much more civilised and tolerant world now, aren’t we?
Slavery though in the darker forms that we associate it with it is abhorrent and unjustifiable. To treat a nation or even an individual in such a way, as we know has and is happening, is scandalous. To look at another human being and see them as nothing really is in essence, heartbreaking. Though sometimes that’s hard when they’ve smashed your car window again, but that’s a reaction to something, not an integral part of your nature.
We can look at the whole picture of Israel and can sometimes be a bit dismissive of how people react to these situations and with God, but put yourself in their shoes as it unfolds. Slaves for 400 years I believe it was, they escape their torturous oppressors and then they see them in front of them, and army of chariots and weaponry, them on foot and no weapons and apparently no escape route, you’d panic too, your knees would be knocking and your lips trembling.
So they cried out to God, wouldn’t you? It should be their first reaction anyway, well second to the ‘aaarrgghhh’ and ‘oh no’.
It can be interesting, (going back over things you haven’t read for a while, noticing details you didn’t see the first time). For me it happened in verse 20, where the sea was parted at night and that’s when they crossed over, perhaps it’s just my lack of attention or having the images of those epic Franco Zeffirelli and Cecil B DeMille films such as ‘Ten Commandments’, ‘Samson and Delilah’ and ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, that made me think it was during the day. Like John said last week, watching these films, in your youth, they stick with you for a long time.
So think how it was for them, dark, no light as one commentary said this was 7 days after the full moon, so all they had was the cloud of fire. The desert gets really cold at night too. I wonder if anyone big or small put their hand to the water as they made their way through. Was there any noise from the water? Could they hear the Egyptians chasing them, old people, Mothers carrying their babies, young children, perhaps some of their Father’s backs all hurrying as best they could.
As you have been told and will be kept reminded of this is putting the young Bible School Stories in an adult context. I thought of trying to put a possibly little thought of theme on it, but I decided to go with what it is designed for, or at the very least what it is strongly suited for.
As any of you know, I love Sharon deeply, as most of you know, I’ll share my opinions openly and freely; as most of you who’ve know me the longest know I don’t share of myself at all, or at least very little.
We don’t have the time, you don’t have the interest and we can’t afford the bills for therapy to find out why I don’t share my feelings. I know, I’m just not telling. Sharon is my partner; she’s the only person in this planet that I’ve shared with intensely private and personal things. It’s not been easy, she’s helped me a lot, but she knows my skeletons, only God know me more, and yet like Him, She still loves me.
These things are hard because they leave you vulnerable. Like saying, ‘ I love you’ to someone for the first time. Like giving all your love, with its flaws to your children. Like standing up in front of you, people that you love, care and respect and sharing thoughts from the Bible. To do these things takes Faith and it takes Trust. You could be ridiculed, rejected, embarrassed, spurned, or you could be received with an open and warm acceptance and embrace.
Israel walking through the water is an act of trust, steps that we have followed. Just as they crossed the sea and we were baptized, both are definitive days in our history. Their future was with God, but they needed to be free of the Egyptians, washed of their influence, cleansed of Egyptian and slave thinking. In baptism we need to be clean and free of all that used to hinder us, our habits and practises that trap us and keep us from God. Both are salvation through water. God instructed them in the way to go. Both are works that He had planned in advance. Just as He was glorified before the Egyptians, so He is by the work He does in us and through Jesus we will be glorified before Him.
The idea of washing is not new to us. The practise of cleansing is familiar to us all. We wash to get rid of dirt, we wash for hygiene ie toilet, food handling; we was ceremonially to get ready for that date, an evening out, an interview, using our lotions and potions. It’s not new to us. Just as the Israelites put their trust in God and we in Jesus through baptism, so we are then in the protection of God. Israel has the angel of God and the pillar of cloud at their back and the pillar of fire in front to lead them, complete and total protection, as we have when we placed our lives in Him.
As for those who would pursue us, their sin hurries them along to their own destruction. The Egyptians obviously thought they were safe to pursue the Israelites, crossing the same dry ground, but Judgement is coming their way. For those who are enjoying and sharing in the blessings of this life are not going to share those of the next. The Israelites crossing over and we are being baptised is not the end. It marks the start of a new beginning, of a literal new day in Israel’s case, a fresh start. It is by no means, the end. They might have walked forward in trust but it had to continue. Faith and obedience need to be part of who they are to continue to be God’s people. Crossing through the water was not enough to save those who worshipped the calf, nor the others who were slain in other judgements. We too need to have a good conscience, answerable to God, ignoring and rejecting sin.
John 3:5
‘Jesus answered, “I tell you for certain that before you can get into God’s kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit.”
It is good to be on the other side. My trust in Sharon is secure. Each time I share and open up my heart, it’s rewarded with a closer bond, the 2 are becoming as one. The cry of ‘Dad’ is a happy sound as they still need you and are seeking your help. It’s good to know that something I’ve said has helped or encouraged you, it strengthens me to carry on and makes me happy to be the agent of God’s blessing.
Is there a sea in front of you? Are there people behind you, seeking your blood? Whatever troubles are surrounding you, step forward with trust, with hope and you may see God clearing the way for you, a pathway to a better life and a closer relationship with Him.