AP

Exodus 14:31   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.

What an encouraging verse this is – or would be, if we didn’t happen to know the rest of the whole sad story!

The events described throughout this chapter were not just putting forth a theoretical concept for the fleeing Israelites – they were something they acually experienced, in real time, and with their own eyes.  There can be no possible doubt that their Saviour, the LORD who had made specific Covenant Promises to them, first to their Ancestor, Abraham, and then renewed to the generations that folllowed, had just proven himself to be sovereign over all his creation, on their behalf.  Of course they were going to honour, worship (‘fear’) and trust him for every part of their lives from that point on.  Why wouldn’t they?!

Their subsequent history, however, indicates conclusively that there must be something radically wrong with the mechanism of the human psyche.  Their intentions were sound, but their behaviour fell a long way short of those intentions.  Does that sound familiar, given that we are all born with the same psyche?  Is it not true that, if we are honest, we can all identify with the ancient prophet’s assessment: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9).

As we read through Exodus, we can find somewhat perplexing the powerful working of the Holy Spirit of God in the heart of Pharaoh, hardening it in egotistical arrogance in order to demonstrate his glory (verses 4, 8, 17-18, cf Romans 9:17-18), and in the hearts of his Covenant People to show them their inability to trust and obey him in their own feeble strength.

But, all this points to the inescapable truth that we all need a Saviour – One whose deeds were all consistent with his intentions, and who then died, taking on himself all the guilt and punishment for our shortcomings, our sin, in order to save us.  “I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned, I only know, at his right hand stands one who is my Saviour.  I take him at his word and deed: Christ died to save me: this I read, and in my heart I find a need of him to be my Saviour.  And was there then no other way for God to take?  I cannot say, I only bless him, day by day, who saved me through my Saviour.  That he would leave his place on high and come for sinful man to die; you count it strange?  So once did I before I knew my Saviour.  And O that he fulfilled might see the travail of his soul in me, and with his work contented be, as I with my dear Saviour.  Yes, living, dying: let me bring my strength, my solace from this spring: that he who lives to be my King once died to be my Saviour” (Dora Greenwell).

– Bruce Christian