...at the dawning

The strength of the sea is what I saw this morning. Not as a sailor manning the deck of his vessel, but as a student listening to the teachings of his Instructor. The sea had come back together in a fury! The walls of water collapsed in a hastened exchange of death blows and thunderous applause. Each layered depth ceding to the one above it. The force became cyclonic liquid tornadoes that entangled the army charging over the sea bed without a hope or chance of escape.

“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest per adventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt’ (Exodus 13: 17)…”

“Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Psalm 77: 19-20).”

God knows His people. He knows His creation. He knew they were a stiff-necked people and were prone to murmurings and complaints. He had to set them up in a way to break free from not just the physical constraints of the chains and heavy demands of the king of Egypt, but he had to free their minds from the mental and spiritual lassos that held them captive.  

“Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believe not in God, and trusted not in his salvation (Psalm 78: 21-22)…”

When it was over, those that had passed by safely stood on the shorelines, saw that the sea had pushed out, or rather, spewed out the mangled lifeless bodies of their enemies onto the banks.  At the dawning of the morning, a new day had begun. Time had a new inflection point and it was called the Red Sea moment.

“…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… and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore (Exodus 14: 27, 30).” 

All eastern winds, funnels of spinning water, and tornadoes of whipping flames had halted in a moment. The chariots racing along the sea floor. The clanking of metals, cracking of whips, and the yells of curses and motivation had all stopped in a second. The silence was eery, deafening, and ultimately deadly. This story still resonates after almost 3500 years. Moses and Pharaoh. Israel and Egypt. Freedom from bondage. Yes, a new day had been forged and the dawn had risen!

“Marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap (Psalm 78: 12—13).”

Yet there are more moments to draw from the story, moments of fatigue, disdain, and murmurings. Moments where they spoke of returning to Egypt despite seeing the majesty of the LORD first hand. The Israelites had been pressed into a bind. A natural barrier of land’s end and the high seas. Add on the most potent army of the day which had been nipping at their heals and you can feel their frustrations.  

Yet still, they carried the weight of the riches of Egypt in their sacks, they had a pillar of clouds by day and a whirlwind of flames by night (Exodus 13: 21). They were enclosed in the protection of the Most High God and still they spoke complaints against Moses, Aaron, and the LORD. And the LORD heard…

“And they said unto Moses, ‘…wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, let us alone, the we may serve the Egyptians?’ (Exodus 14:11-12).”

“Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believe not in God, and trusted not in his salvation (Psalm 78: 21-22)…”

Deepening the divide was fear and the unknown. God was revealing a new aspect of Himself and the congregation was clueless. They bickered and rebelled against the LORD and Moses demanding their way or the highway in so many terms. So God let them roam in the desert for a generation until the younger ones were ready to lead the charge. Today, we wear a similar hat, but we aren’t unified under Him. We are much like the Israelites of old, bickering and demanding to have it “our way”. When in the scope of things, there is a much bigger play going on here. 

In the delays, not denials, there is God waiting for you. In the waiting is where the union comes in to play. In the quiet is where we find Him. I hope today, we can be gracious in these moments. The Red Sea is still ahead. The collapsing of the old is still happening. Let’s not delay this by bickering and pointing the finger. Let’s pray together and for one another. Why waste a moment fighting your brethren when the enemy is still looming. 

Godspeed, The Journeyman

Ps. This stems from some time away from the noise. God has set up an event that he’ll do shortly. And just like He did in Moses' day, it’ll be in a day. What is the day? He has not revealed that yet… 

Here is a little paragraph the didn’t make the cut…

Deepening into the abyss, Pharaoh and his army was swarmed by loud and voluminous clapping sounds. Droplets of water turned into heavyweight right-hooks.  The sea bed betrayed their stance and swept the sand out from under their feet. The towering multistoried columns of water had just collapsed upon the army of Egypt knocking the breath and life from their lungs. The sea silenced their objections and ended their life in a moment. Moses and Israel stepped into a new day.

Isaiah 43:19 KJV “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?”

John 14: 27 KJV “Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”