TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Exodus 14:19-29
On July 13, 2015, a devastating flood struck Johnson County, Kentucky. Almost seven inches of rain fell within hours over the upper watershed of Mud Lick Creek. A 30-foot wall of water came down the valley, sweeping away everything in its path. Hundreds were left homeless and three tragically lost their lives. Shortly after school resumed, a storm moved through the area. Despite assurances that everything was fine, teachers reported that many students were terrified by the falling rain and crashing thunder.
I wonder how many of the Israelite parents had to calm their children for years after the crossing of the Red Sea. In one terrifying night, God leads His people from the Egyptian army’s danger to the tranquility of safety, but the journey they have to make is both dramatic and traumatic. The fiery pillar separates the people from the Egyptians while a strong east wind blows steadily in their faces, strong enough to divide the waters of that gulf, strong enough to dry the seabed beneath their feet. With a wall of water on each hand, the Israelites make the epic trek from destruction to safety.
After that, did the children shudder every time the wind blew? Did parents ever wake suddenly in the night, gasping for breath as they reached to make sure their loved ones were safe? Were they constantly imagining seeing Egyptians behind every rock and bush?
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Paul writes, “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” He likens their passage from peril to safety to the baptism to which we must be subject in order to pass from condemnation to salvation. There may be times when we are spiritually “looking over our shoulders” wondering if the sins of our past will one day catch up to us, wondering if our passage to salvation is really enough. We should rest easy, though, knowing that when God saves, He really saves!
Today, I will…thank God for His faithfulness to save and take comfort in the face of spiritual storms, trusting in His grace, mercy, and might.