Wednesday, March 22, 2023

          Soon after arriving safely on the other side of the Red Sea, Moses led the people of Israel in a song of celebration and praise (found in Exodus 15:1-18).  God had just safely delivered Israel out of Egypt (what we know as the Exodus) and through the Red Sea on dry ground.  Once again, dry ground!  God parted the waters and Israel safely reached the other side.  God made a way when there was no way.  The song we find in Exodus 15 told of the Lord’s greatness and glory.  He was Israel’s Champion and Deliverer.  Exodus 15:18 says, “The LORD reigns for ever and ever.”  Those seven words are a fitting end to a song of praise.  And those words form a period or even exclamation point on what God had just done.  It was a drop the mic moment.  We can easily imagine the people of Israel were in utter awe of what they had just witnessed and even participated in as they passed safe and dry through walls of water on either side of them.
            Even today, we need to be reminded that the Lord God reigns—not just for a term or season like an elected official.  No, God reigns—now, tomorrow and always.  Surprisingly, only a few verses later in Exodus, the people are grumbling and complaining to Moses about the lack of water to drink.  It seems that, collectively, the memories of the people had grown awfully short and frail.  We would think that Israel would have no trouble trusting the Lord to provide them with water after what the people had just witnessed Him do.  But human memory often fades and fails—and certainly so in remembering the Lord and His deeds.  Faith is tragically reduced to “what have you done for me lately, Lord?” 
            We often need to be reminded that the Lord reigns—for ever and ever!  When days are long and battles rage, we would do well to remember that the Lord reigns.  His throne is as secure as ever.  His authority has not diminished in any way.  Heaven still rules the affairs of earth and the universe.  God gave Israel water to drink (Exodus 15:25).  In fact, God turned bitter water into drinkable water.  The bitter and undrinkable water of Marah was turned into refreshing, clean and sustaining water.  So, in a relatively brief span of time, God had performed two amazing miracles.  He divided the waters of the Red Sea for Israel to pass through and He changed bitter water into refreshing water for the people to drink.  But, and we know there must be a “but,” a few verses later in Exodus 16, the people are grumbling again. 
            This latest grumbling concerned the lack of food.  The people even went as far as to say, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you, Moses, have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death” (Exodus 16:3).  Some lessons are never learned.  Israel had watched the power of God on display twice yet still grumbled and murmured against Moses and the Lord (Exodus 16:8).  Once again, God provided for the people.  He sent them meat and manna.  This third miracle reminded the people once again that God reigns.  He can do anything He wishes anywhere and at any time. 
            Maybe you tend to doubt the Lord.  Remember that He reigns.  He is on the throne of the universe and presiding over the affairs of this earth and providing for us.  Think of the times and ways that God has provided for you, answered prayers, blessed you or met your needs in some special way.  The enemy would love to confuse us and rob us of the memories we have of God working in our lives.  God is a debtor to no one.  He provides.  He reigns.  He rules.  He makes a way when we cannot see or find a way forward by ourselves.  Like Israel, we often have to learn, relearn and continue to learn important lessons about who God is and what He does.  One critical lesson we must learn is the message of the Exodus—God reigns!  He always has and He always will!  Have a great Wednesday!  Our Sunday worship can be found at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.