Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:29, “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.”

Did either the Israelites or the Egyptians pause to consider the miracle before them?

The story in Exodus 14 notes that just before the sea walls opened Israel stood on the riverbanks in complaint and rebellion. Then only after they safely crossed and saw the soldiers drown “the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” They stepped into the path unbelieving but hopeful? And when the Egyptians saw them, “they took up the pursuit, and …. went in after them into the midst of the sea.” No hesitation?

From a distance we read as if watching an onscreen version of special effects and can imagine the mountainous walls of water, the sound, the fear and we are riveted without being present. How then could the actual participants not be staggered by the gift of God’s power before them? And yet, they had all just experienced plagues beyond imagination. Did miracles now seem ordinary?

I wonder how our fear of the unknown, or the hubris of entitlement, can rob us of astonishment and wonder when the unexpected appears right in front of us.

When we see answers to our prayers and then try to explain them away. Or minimize the Lord’s influence or later actually contradict it. Faith requires belief in the unseen and yet too often we also wait for the final proof or good solution before we will believe. Or perhaps just assume we have the right to something when the answer is no. Maybe we are too busy leaning on our own understanding instead of a willingness to listen and follow Spirit nudges to trust.

Nevertheless Jesus continues to make intercession for us. He continues to save—even when we can’t see straight—for the sake of His name—love—God with us.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 106: 8-11

“Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name,

That He might make His power known.

Thus He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up;

And He led them through the deeps as through the wilderness.

So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them,

And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

And the waters covered their adversaries; Not one of them was left.”