Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 22: Red Sea

Good morning, everyone!

I hope everyone is having a splendid day.

So, continuing the RBY challenge, today I'm reading Exodus 13-15.

And in today's reading is one of the biggest miracles in the Bible.

The parting of the Red Sea.

After the last plague: the death of every firstborn male in Egypt, Pharaoh releases the Israelites.

But then he changes his mind again, takes his army, and pursues them to the Red Sea.

The Israelites are terrified with the Sea before them and the Egyptians behind them.

But Moses stretches out his staff and God parts the waters, so that the Israelites can cross over on dry land.

Can you imagine this? You're escaping slavery. Your slavers are pursuing you. And there's a sea in front of you. But God pushes the waters back so you can walk across safely. On dry land.

Can you imagine what that must have looked like? What they must have been thinking?

I can almost see it, but I can't imagine the awe that they must have felt. And probably fear too.

As the do the Egyptians. They pursue the Israelites for a time, but become afraid and turn back. But it is too late.

When the Israelites have all crossed over safely, God releases the waters.

And the Egyptian pursuers, including Pharaoh, die.

Thus, God took the Israelites safely out of Egypt.

And that's a big miracle.

But did you know there was another miracle happening at that time?

God leads the Israelites out of Egypt by day and by night.

And He shows them the way with a cloud. That lights up at night. This cloud also protects them from the Egyptians.

Isn't that amazing?

Genesis 14:19-20 - And the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.

Isn't it amazing how God protects His people?

He can use any means to do it, sometimes simple, and sometimes miraculous.

I love the story of the parting of the Red Sea because it reminds me that no matter how close in pursuit the Enemy gets, God has a plan to protect us. He does not bring us out of slavery just to lose us. And there is nowhere we can go that He cannot be.

So that's my reflection for today.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Exodus 16-18.