Friday April 26: 21 Aviv

It was on this day, so says tradition, that Israel crossed through the Red Sea followed by Pharaoh and his chariots. When the waters closed upon the Egyptians and they were destroyed, Israel sang the “Shirah” – the song celebrating their deliverance. A portion of that song says:

“I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.” (Exodus 15:1-5)

Tradition goes on to say that when Israel saw the dead Egyptians on the seashore that they collected their weapons. Later they would need those weapons to fight the Amalekites. Notice how quickly their fear and sense of hopelessness was turned into rejoicing and singing. Not only did they witness the destruction of their enemy, but his wealth and his weapons were delivered into their hands. What proved to be deliverance for the children of Israel meant destruction for their enemies and serves as a lesson to us. In fact, according to Paul, these things that happened during the Exodus were written down as an example for us:

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

These events of the past should not be viewed merely as an historical record but should also be recognized as foreshadowings of the future – our future – if we truly believe we are in the end of the age. That means the same God who delivered them can and will deliver us with a mighty and outstretched arm. That also means that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. But it also infers that we are going to be challenged to walk through the sea and trust God. We must be willing to place our confidence in Him as He leads us down the path He has prepared for us.