God Opens Up a Way
Opening Prayer
Jesus, help me to take this time to focus on You, not on my problems.
Read Exodus 14:19–31
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. 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.
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. 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 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever faced an impossible situation? How did God come through?From their human perspective, the Israelites were trapped. They seem to have forgotten that God has promised their ancestors that they would be brought back to the Promised Land (Gen. 28:15). Instead of reminding God what he had promised, they were terrified. Then God showed them the extent of his power, opening up a way when it seemed impossible to go on. Moses had learned the habit of obedience; even though he was under great stress, his natural reaction was to do what God said.
How do you respond under pressure? Do you turn to prayer?
A key point in the Second World War, the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, followed a Day of National Prayer. In the presence of the king and the prime minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury called for God’s help. God answered with calm seas and a high mist, which interfered with the accuracy of German bombers. By the end of the eighth day, a total of 338,226 soldiers had been rescued by a fleet of more than 800 boats. God still hears and answers prayer.
Apply
Are there Bible promises that seem to be God’s promises specifically to you? Write them down to encourage you this week.
Closing prayer
Loving God, I know that You see and hear me. Come to my side today, show up in my situation and be glorified in me.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.