Well, we're going to look at Exodus 14:15–31. It's how the Creator uses his power over the creation to create new things in his people. This again, a long passage.
The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.”
And you know the rest of the story. There are two things that are amazing demonstration of how the LORD uses creation-power to create new things in the hearts of his people. He has the power to do anything, with his creation he wants to do so he has the power to part the waters of this sea, to make those waters stand as if they're two walls, and in between, there's a clear and dry passage for the Israelites.
It's got to be one of the most incredible scenes in all of Scriptural history. But he also has the power over mechanical things. And he has the power to clog the wheels of the Egyptian chariots. You have to laugh–it's hysterical! So that they would not move well. Imagine what these poor Egyptians are thinking, “All of a sudden, chariots don't do what chariots are supposed to do, slowing down their progress.”
God's power to command the seas, once again to do his will, is what this means; the walls crash down, cover the Egyptian army, drowning this army in the face of the children of Israel. But for all the demonstration of his power over creation that we've seen in this Red Sea moment, there is even a greater power that's revealed in this passage. It's the power of God to change the human heart. God has a power and willingness to do what's necessary to change our hearts–something that nothing or no one has the power to do. Hear these words. “Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.”
Think about the radical change from doubt to trust, from anger against the LORD to fear of the LORD, from horrible accusations against Moses to belief in his leadership. You see, that confronts us again with our biggest problem–it's not our circumstances. Our biggest problem in life is what our hearts do with our circumstances! And so it's not enough for God just to change what's around us; he must work, more importantly, to change what is inside of us–and what the Bible calls that is “Grace!”
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Has there ever been an experience in your life (spectacular or otherwise) that has directed a personal change of heart that helped turn you away from doubting God toward trusting him? What was that experience like and how did God specifically meet you in that time?
2. In what ways and through what variables has the Lord worked in your life to bring about his will for you, your personal sanctification, and glory to himself? How has that personally changed you and helped you grow in wisdom?
3. What surprises you about the practicality and physicality of God clogging the chariot wheels of the Egyptians? Why do you think details like this are included in the Word of God? What might the Lord have for you to learn about the nature of how he works and through what means, based on this passage?
4. Why do you think it’s so easy for us to blame our circumstances and not our own hearts when we examine our biggest problems in life? How is God currently working inside of you and going after your heart? What has been your response to God’s work in your heart? How is he changing you by going after your heart?
For Younger Children:
1. What do you think it means to doubt someone or something? What does it mean to trust someone or something? If you doubted the truth about something I said, how could your doubt be turned into trust?
2. Name a few things you can think of that God is in control over. Nature? People? Machines? Human actions? How does God’s control over all things make you feel?
3. What do you think is your biggest problem in life? How does God work to change us and why do you think we need to be changed?
For Older Children:
1. How have you seen God work in your life to help you move from doubting him to trusting him? How is trust formed in the heart of a person? How have you seen God be trustworthy in your life?
2. Why do you think it’s so easy to forget that God is in control over everything, including every detail of your life and mine? How does that make you feel? Why might that be hard for you to believe?
3. What do you think is your biggest problem in life? How does God work to change us and why do you think we need to be changed?
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