Journal Through the Bible: Week 13 Friday

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Exodus 14:5-15:21

One of the things that I have noted in the margin of my Bible is that there is no prayer needed when God has already left instructions. In 14:15-16 God asks Moses, "Why are you crying to me? Tell the people to step out by faith! I gave you a command and the tools for carrying it out! What more do you need?" Well, that's my paraphrase of it, anyway.  :)

There's a great lesson there, you know. If God has so equipped someone and has commanded them to do a seemingly impossible job He doesn't expect a lot of discussion about it, just obedience. Moses told them to "stand still" to see what the LORD would do for them (verse 13) but God said to tell them to "get moving!"

Does God make any promises in this passage?

• God promised to deliver them safely to the other side of the Red Sea.

Are there any references to Jesus?

• We are told that there was an angel of God leading them (most likely the human manifestation of God, which is Jesus. This is what is called a "theophany" when God shows up in the flesh in the Old Testament.). This angel stopped leading them and went behind them to put himself between the two groups of people.  The pillar of fire went with him.
• In their song of praise, the people say that they have been redeemed by God's right hand. This is Jesus. And now He is at the Father's right hand making intercession for us. Just as this right hand dashed the enemies to pieces, so did the right hand dash the enemy, Satan, and his most powerful weapon against us, death, to pieces. Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave!

Are there any references to yet-future events?

• Just as the Israelites saw their enemies conquered and sang a hymn of praise to the God that protected and redeemed them, so will the people of God someday see all of their tormentors destroyed and will also spontaneously sing songs of praise to their redeemer God.
• In their song, the people sing that God will lead His people to the place He has prepared for them. Jesus told us that He went to prepare a place for us and that we would join Him someday.
• The people sing that God will reign forever and ever. This is ongoing!

Does God issue any commands?

• God told Moses to hold his rod out over the Red Sea and to tell the people to start walking!
• God commanded Moses to stretch out his rod once more to bring the waters back over the Egyptians and their chariots.