The chase...and the path to promise

Today: Exodus 13-15



God keeps His promises. It's a common theme I've definitely seen so far throughout this project and reading the Bible together. But today's passage illustrated how sometimes the path toward a promise fulfilled can look a bit different than most human beings would like...in fact, it can look frightening.


Today we read about the Israelites' escape from Egypt and how God miraculously parted the Red Sea. That's what most people remember most about the story. I've heard, read and seen it a hundred times (hello, Charlton Heston and "The Ten Commandments" movie!). Usually, I focus on the miracle. It's pretty amazing, right?


However, I think some lessons from this passage are not about the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. I think we could probably learn something about God (and ourselves) from the Egyptians' terrifying chase through the desert.

God promised His people that they would be set free, loaded up with riches from Egypt and led to the Promised Land. He promised to be with them. They were thrilled to be on the path toward a promise fulfilled. Things happened just as God said--they were released by Pharaoh and loaded down with treasures from the Egyptians.

Then something changed...Pharaoh's mind. His army of skilled soldiers and battle equipment charged into the desert after the Israelites. (I don't know about you, but I would be horrified if an army of trained soldiers surrounded my defenseless family!) The Israelites had their children with them. They felt trapped--they felt that Moses and God duped them. They were scared and angry, too.

But God never promised the Israelites (or us, for that matter!) that the path toward His promises would be easy. It may look scary at moments--totally different than what we ever wanted or imagined, but it could be a path that leads us to a miracle.

Remember this: Before the Red Sea, there was a chase. The path toward promise isn't always paved...but God's Presence is always there.


Tomorrow: Exodus 16-18