Water Slaughter - Exodus 14; Exodus 19:1-20:21

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14)

The Hebrews ran from Egypt in to the desert, chased by an enraged Egyptian army possessing terrifying firepower.  Guided not by military strategy but by LOVE, they ran straight to shore of the Red Sea.  Moses, feeling stupid, desperate and exhausted, asked LOVE what to do.  The answer was not encouraging: hold out a stick over the water.  Moses obeyed, knowing that LOVE often uses our obedience in apparently trivial and banal things to trigger his power displayed in awesome and significant things.  Sure enough, the waters parted.  Through this baptism, LOVE defeated death, visiting justice on those whose guilt remained, whilst delivering those whose guilt had been removed.  LOVE is not to be toyed with.  Never, ever, under any circumstances, end up as a sinner in the hands of an angry God.  Instead, when you hear LOVE, relent, obey and be saved.

Years ago, I saw this cartoon depicting the parting of the Red Sea:

Like Caleb in this cartoon, it’s a mistake just to treat this story as a bit of fun.  It’s deadly serious.  LOVE’s action on that day delivered those who obeyed to safety, securing their freedom and beginning their journey the promised land.  LOVE’s action on that day also dealt with evil and oppression and those who had hardened their hearts against LOVE’s cause.  We must all choose life.

When we follow LOVE there may be times when we feel led to a place of sure defeat.  At that point we must choose to keep trusting in LOVE’s faithfulness.  Today let’s pray for LOVE to deliver us from our enemies and lead us in to freedom, dealing once and for all with our sins and other’s sins which enslave us.

LOVE’s blueprint for a great society is not complex.  LOVE handed Moses ten concrete laws.  Jesus agreed that the entire law could be summarised by saying that if you love LOVE and love others without compromise, then you can’t go wrong.  But beware.  This is a lot trickier to do than it sounds.  The Hebrews took 40 years completing a 4-day journey whilst they learned just how serious LOVE was about the law.  Amongst the precise edicts was one instruction never to covet your neighbour’s donkey.  Just say they’ve got a nice ass, then move on…

“And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” (Exodus 14:31)