When Steven Spielberg made the movie, The Prince of Egypt, I was curious at how he would portray the events of Moses’ life, the Ten Plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. It’s an interesting exercise to watch the movie with Bible in hand and see what he got right, what he got wrong, and how he portrayed it all.
One of my favorite moments in the movie coincides with Exodus 14. The pillar of fire and cloud, moved to the back of the Israelites keeping the Egyptians at bay. Moses raised his hands over the sea and it parted, and the people walk into the canyon with watery walls. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning, and in that flash the people see the silhouettes of fish, some of them very large, and they ogle in awe at what they were experiencing.
Of course it didn’t start out quite so wonderfully. When the Israelites realized that the Egyptians were chasing them, they made this startling statement, “Is it because there are no grave in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” Despite having seen all the miraculous signs and the mighty plagues of the Lord, they were still terrified by their earthly enemy.
How typical – not just for Israel, but also for us. How often when we run into problems do we respond like Israel? We overreact to small things, and totally lose sight of the power and grace of God. When we run into troubles we would do well to remember Moses words in vv. 13-14, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
God fights for us. Indeed, he fought for us. As Jesus hung on Calvary’s Cross, he was in mortal combat fighting for the heart and soul of every man, woman, and child on earth. He has overcome and won the victory on our behalf. We can, with all confidence, say with Paul, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:31-32 NIV)
God is on our side. How do I know? He gave Jesus to deliver us from sin and death. What more could He give? How much more commitment could He show?
As we face situations in life where we feel that we are up against a wall, trapped between the sea and some terrible enemy, we do not need to quake in fear. We know that God is with us and for us. He will see us through that situation, and through all of our life, and He will finally bring us safely home to be with Him in glory.
Having seen God’s salvation we can reply with Israel’s response to their salvation. Verse 31 says, “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 His servant Moses.” We have seen the great power of God, not in parted seas, but in cross and emptied tomb. Jesus not only died, but He has risen.
No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper. If God is for us who can stand against us? Fear not. The Lord is with you; today and always.
Father in Heaven, sometimes life is dangerous and I get scared. Give me faith to trust in You and know that in the end all is well for Jesus has won the victory for me. Amen.
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