Exodus Chapter 14; Joshua Chapters 3-4
The children of Israel were literally between a rock and a hard place. God had freed them from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. They were free and were walking out with a high hand. Suddenly, it appeared that their new-found freedom was short-lived because Pharaoh and his Army were hot on their trail, determined to either destroy them or return them to slavery. It appeared that there was no way of escape because the Red Sea stood before them, blocking their way to safety on the other side. Then, the God of the Universe magnified His servant Moses before the people, destroyed the enemies of the Israelites, all while making a way of escape for His people through the Red Sea. When Moses lifted his hands and stretched his rod towards the raging waters and parted the Red Sea in obedience to God’s directions, approximately two million people were able to walk to freedom on dry ground. That’s our God. That’s our strong Deliverer!
Upon the death of Moses, just before the children of Israel were ready to cross the Mighty Jordan River into the Promised Land, they found themselves again facing a major watery barrier to freedom. Joshua, the man of God chosen to replace Moses, had to be exalted before the eyes of the people so that they would know that the same God that lead their beloved Moses was still with them. They needed to know that if God did it for Moses, He would do it for Joshua. The people needed the reassurance that God spoke to Joshua just as He did to Moses. When God gave Joshua specific instructions concerning the priests and what they were to do while carrying the Ark of the Covenant, Joshua obeyed and God delivered the children of Israel through the Jordan River on dry ground. God magnified His servant Joshua before the eyes of the people just as He did Moses. The children of Israel walked through what had been a watery barrier on dry ground just as they did in Moses’s day. God’s miracle that day let everyone know that if He did it once, He will do it again! And, if He did it for one He will do it for another.
The day will come in the life of every Saint of God when they will need to know that God can meet their needs, no matter how hard the situation may appear to be. These two identified miracles of the Old Testament teach us the truth of Hebrews 13:8 which states:
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
When you are facing your “Ole Chilly Jordan” or the Red Sea of your life, remember what God has already done.
One morning The Young Adult Sunday School Class decided to ask God to perform a miracle during the 11 A.M. Sunday Morning Worship Service. They wanted to see something dramatic like a limb lengthened out or someone in a wheelchair get up and walk. When the teacher of the class walked into the sanctuary, the Lord spoke to her heart. He showed her the Minister of Music who had had cancer for decades but never stopped singing, working, was healthy and never stopped praising God. What a miracle! Then God said, “Praise me for what I have already done.”
This was a strong reminder that we need to glorify God for the miracles that He has already performed, knowing that if He did it once, He’ll do it again; and, if he did it for one He will do it for another.
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your loving-kindness and your tender mercies. We thank You that You are no respecter of persons. We thank You that You are God Almighty and that there is nothing too hard for You. We do praise and magnify Your high name for all of the things that You have already done and will do in the future. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
