When the Sea Closes Behind You
One day we will have a view from the other side of the thin space between heaven and now. When Jesus returns and renews, restores, and unites all of his creation, the view will be spectacular and our understanding will be clear. We will no longer look into the mirror and see dimly as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13; we will see Jesus face-to-face, and we will know fully. But for now, we have faith, hope, and love to lean on and abide in as we face the challenges of this side of eternity.
We know the view from the other side is wildly different. So why don’t we talk about it more? Well, for one, we are living on this side of our final redemption and, as we have already acknowledged, the view is a bit blurry. But what about the other side of the mountains of difficulty that God has brought us through? I think we need to talk about those experiences a lot more and for good reason.
If you read the psalms and other prayers and songs of victory in the scriptures, we find numerous and sometimes lengthy descriptions of God’s deliverance from seemingly impossible situations. One great example of the view from the other side is found in the first 21 verses of Exodus 15.
The people of Israel faced what appeared to be impossible odds of survival. The army of Egypt was closing in and trained soldiers were ready to stop their escape from slavery. When the Egyptians were in sight and people of Israel were terrified, their defense was to trust in this message from the Lord:
“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 shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
The view before God’s intervention filled the children of Israel with fear. But Exodus 15 records a powerful testimony of God’s deliverance as Israel sings: “The horse and the rider he has thrown into the sea!”
As we read the rest of Exodus and beyond, it seems that God’s people forgot to recall and celebrate God’s miraculous rescue often enough. Which brings us back to our need to recall, to tell, and to celebrate the victories God has brought us through. And especially when we are facing another battle or difficulty.
Psalm 18 is a wonderful example of David reflecting on and praising God for bringing him through great difficulty. Take time to read a few lines of this psalm and of the song of victory we find in Exodus. And then, maybe you and I should write down a few things God has done for us in the past. Someone might just need to hear your song of deliverance!
Father, thank you for your faithfulness in our times of trouble. Give us confidence to share our testimony of your goodness with someone today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Exodus 14:13-14, 15:1-21; Psalm 18:1-3, 16-20, 25-36, 39, 46 ESV
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