Friday, August 22nd

To listen to the audio version, click here.

“You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.

“You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.

“You heard their cry” – For centuries God’s people cried out and wondered where God was. Why wasn’t he listening to their cry? Now, looking back, the Israelites realize that God was there all along. He was listening to their cries, and he responded in the most incredible way. Why did he wait as long as he did? How could he let his people suffer for so long? God was doing something in the life of his people. One could argue that God even rescued them too soon, as the people argued and complained, desiring to be back in Egypt living in punishment and enslavement. How often do we revert back to our old sinful ways, desiring to go back to our Egypt, thinking that it is better than what God desires or offers? The people would need another forty years of training before they were ready to truly follow God.  Praise God for delivering us! Praise God for hearing us!

“You made a name for yourself” – It continues to amaze me that with such a pathetic following, God’s name is continually made great. His name continues to be praised, even though, we, his people, continue to screw things up for him. Rather than abandoning us completely, God is patient, and continues to work in us and through us. God does not need us to make him great. He already is great. He does not need us to make a name for him among the nations. He made a name for himself. Yet, God continues to allow us to partner with him in his work. What a gracious gift! What a weight that is lifted from us, knowing that even during our messiest times, God continues to make a name for himself!

“You led them” – it would have been enough if God had simply rescued his people, then left them alone to figure out how to live life now that they were free. It would have definitely been a lot less work for him! Sometimes, our minds deceive us into thinking this way. We cry out to God, begging him to save us from the mess we have made, then, once he rescues us, we go back to living life on our own, thinking that we will do better the next time around. Yet, God chooses to lead his people. He does not leave them hanging. He led them by day, and by night. He led them through the “bright” times, and through the “dark” times. God is still doing that for us today. Praise God for his activity in our lives, and for leading us each day! Praise God for the gift of his Holy Spirit who is leading and instructing us!

“You came down” – Stop. Read that again. “You” “Came” “Down” let that thought settle in your minds for a moment. God descended to his people. God’s people have always been dependent on this one act of God. We have never been able to reach the heights of God. If God did not come down to his people there would be no communicating with God. If God did not come down and visit his people we would not know what it means to be led. If God did not come down, how would we even truly know him? The greatest act of God is in the fact that He came down. He did it in the Old Testament on numerous occasions. Those are fun stories to read. He did it in the New Testament. He came down, and made a place for himself among his people. He spoke to people. He lived with his people. He walked the earth he created. He showed his people how to live. And then, he died, giving his people life. He did that, when he came down. Praise God, that he is not a far off God, but he is a God who is near to his people!

Pastor Jonathan Goble