Faith Requires Next Steps: Part 2

Devotions for Monday, 9-5-2001

We continue with Exodus 14 starting with verse 21b.

• (21b) 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. 

The Scripture becomes anti-climatic by telling us that because Moses stretched out his hand, "the waters were divided."  Through the act of stretching out his hand Moses in a sense 'consecrated' the waters.  To 'consecrate' something means to set it aside for God's purpose.  So here in the desert, escaping from the Egyptians... we see God's people entering into the waters of mass baptism.  Escaping the fears and concerns of this world and rushing to the other shoreline of hope and safety.  This path leads 'through' the waters.

Once again, the above passage is controversial.  I have heard believers fighting over the words 'dry land.'  Was it dry or just a little moist.  What a silly concern... it was at least 'dry enough' to walk on.  Verse 24 indicates God 'jammed' the wheels of the chariots, this could just as easily imply travel was too slippery for the chariot wheels.  After all, only those who enter the baptismal waters must do so in faith of God's future provision.  The Egyptian army had total disregard for the future provision of Israel's God.  The Egyptians were concerned about holding Israel back from her faith commitments.  What are the things in life holding you back from your commitments?  Where does God wish to take you?

Summary
In 1 Peter 3:20-22 we find the Scriptures making reference to the above metaphor of baptismal waters but in regard to Noah...

• ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

However, the Apostle Paul does not forget about the analogy when he writes in 1 Corinthians 10:1-3...

• ¹ For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ² They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 

It goes to show that even the sacramental steps of faith and indeed the demonstration of faith was not enough to save everyone for "God was not please with most of them; the bodies were scattered in the wilderness."  The Israelites crossed into safety only to complain and act as unbelievers.  In examining faith, we have to remember that faith is an on-going commitment that must be practiced every minute of everyday.  Faith is an active on-going process.  Faith is motion.  Faith is not something we can shelve as a past act.  We will continue to explore the needful activity of Faith in future postings.  Have a good day and love Jesus!



(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 great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Faith Requires Next Steps: Part 1

Devotions for Sunday, 9-4-2011
Sunday, September 4th, 2011: The texts for this coming Sunday, September 11th are:
Exodus 14:19-31 with Psalm 114
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35

My preaching text is Exodus 14:19-31. Throughout the week I will add notes and comments to the text. Feel free to use this as part of your regular daily devotions as we prepare our hearts for next Sunday's Worship. I think it is a good idea for you to see how I start thinking and preparing my message. Here is the text:

Does the term 'Angel of God' in this scenario meet the requirements to be a Christophany? A Christophany (pronounced: KRIS-TOF-FANY, sometimes called a Theophany) is an angelic appearance of the Lord [Jesus]. I will report more on this later.

19a) Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army...

God always will have your backside or as we said in the service, your 'SIX.' It is important to see the impact of God moving between them and what they feared the Egyptian army. We can always call upon God to replace fear with faith and concern with confidence!

19b) withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, (20a) coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.

Notice the nation of Israel (believers) were in the light even when evening came. This is a makes a good metaphor. People can choose to be in spiritual darkness or light. It depends what side of the cloud you wish to be placed. Those in 'the light' could depend on not being affected by the darkness. Even when we are asleep, God is not!

20b) 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.

I am always amazed how people, even believers want to fight about this passage? Whether the 'east wind' was a normative part of nature, or something God created for this particular moment in time is not criticual. What is critical is that God is in control and can turn the elements of nature (that He created) towards the fulfillment of any of His purposes. Please notice the order. We are in the process of looking at the meaning and application of FAITH. Notice faith was exercised with the first step taken out of Egypt. Faith was taken when the believers were able to rest in God;s protection. Notice that as part of the 'FAITH PROCESS' God mediates our fears and gives us confidence. It is also good to note that:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Even an attacking army or a strong East wind. We will talk about this in more detail later, but please realize that FAITH is a process. God could have snapped His spiritual fingers and the waters could have been parted. God does not always exercise the full extent of His might immediately. He wants us to be patient and dependent and trusting. Are you! If you can walk knowing God will provide then you can go through any desert of life and face any fear. The land you walk on will be dry land and the ground will not erode from under your feet.

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.

Sunday, September 4th Summary: Trust in God's concern for you after all, He made you and everything else!

***
(21b) 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 great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.