Exodus 14:26-31: a reflection

26The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. The LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. 28The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them. 29But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31Israel saw the great work which the LORD did to the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

When God brings the waters of the Red Sea back over the Egyptians, delivering Israel completely, the people respond in a way that is itself instructive: Israel saw the great work which the LORD did to the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD. Seeing God's mighty deliverance, they were moved to reverence and to faith; the great work God did led them to fear him and to trust him. God's work was not without effect on them; it drew them to reverence and belief.

Notice the response God's great work produced: reverence and faith. The people saw what God had done, the great deliverance, the overwhelming of their enemies; and it moved them to fear the LORD, to reverence him, and to believe in him. God's mighty work was meant to draw them to this: to a reverent trust in the God who had done it. Seeing what God did led them to fear and faith; the work drew them to reverence and belief in the God who worked it. God's deeds were meant to produce trust and reverence.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's works in our lives too are meant to draw us to reverence and faith. God works in our lives, delivering, providing, doing great things; and these works are meant to lead us, as the Red Sea deliverance led Israel, to reverence him and to trust him more. We can see God's works and remain unmoved, or forget them; but they are meant to draw us to fear and faith. Let the works of God in your life lead you to reverence and faith, as the great deliverance led Israel to fear the LORD and believe in him; do not let them pass unnoticed or forgotten. When you see what God has done in your life, let it draw you to a deeper reverence and trust, as Israel saw the great work of the LORD and feared him and believed; for God's works are meant to lead us to reverence and faith, and we do well to let them, rather than remaining unmoved.

Lord, when you bring the waters of the Red Sea back over the Egyptians, delivering Israel completely, the people respond in a way that is itself instructive: Israel saw the great work which the LORD did to the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD. Seeing your great deliverance, they were moved to reverence and to faith; the great work you did led them to fear you and to trust you. Your work was not without effect on them. Show me the response your great work produced: reverence and faith. The people saw what you had done, the great deliverance; and it moved them to fear you, to reverence you, and to believe in you. Your work was meant to draw them to this: to a reverent trust in the God who had done it. Seeing what you did led them to fear and faith. Take that to my heart, for your works in my life too are meant to draw me to reverence and faith. You work in my life, delivering, providing, doing great things; and these works are meant to lead me, as the Red Sea deliverance led Israel, to reverence you and to trust you more. I can see your works and remain unmoved, or forget them; but they are meant to draw me to fear and faith. Help me let the works of you in my life lead me to reverence and faith, Lord, as the great deliverance led Israel to fear you and believe; keep me from letting them pass unnoticed or forgotten. When I see what you have done in my life, let it draw me to a deeper reverence and trust.