Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Exodus 14:15-31, 15:22-25a (NIV)
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” 19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side, so neither went near the other all night long. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night, the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak, the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 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.
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
Discover how God Led, how God Acted and how God Provided for the People of Israel.
Think of a time, in a way that God led, acted and provided for you.
Holy God, what an awesome display of power to divide the Red Sea so the people Israel could safely cross to the other side destroying the Egyptian soldiers along the way. How could any of those people question that You were leading them, protecting them and providing for them? But just three days later they grumbled when they needed water and You again provided for them. Actually, I am no different than the people of Israel. There have been mountain top experiences where I have experienced Your closeness. I have seen Your hand and protection in response to answered prayer, I have been the benefactor of people who came to my aid in times of trial because You sent them and I have in turn been moved to serve others and have seen the joy of You doing great things in other peoples’ lives. You have provided me all that I have, but still, I grumble and complain and quickly forget what you did very soon after You blessed me when I hit a challenge or low point. Help me to thank You daily and account for all that You do for me each day. I do not want to take Your blessings for granted. Thank You for the best gift of all that You provided me; Your mercy, forgiveness, and grace. Amen.