Living in the Spirit

September 8, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21

The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake,
   I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
   I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.”
You blew with your wind, the sea covered them;
   they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
‘Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
   Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
   awesome in splendor, doing wonders?

Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them:

‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’ –Exodus 15:9-11, 20-21

There was a leader of Egypt identified as Pharaoh, who observed the worth of a talented Israelite slave named Joseph. This Pharaoh removed Joseph from bondage and engaged him as a major official in Egypt’s governance. Joseph did such a good job that when famine struck his homeland, the Pharaoh allowed Joseph to bring his large family to live in prospering Egypt. Fast forward several generations when Joseph’s contributions were mostly forgotten, the Egyptians seeing the worth of Joseph’s people still considered to be aliens, enslaved them for profit’s sake. And then came Moses.

After confronting the current Pharaoh, and with the power and might of God on his side, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt away from the pursuing Egyptian army across the Red Sea to safety. The Egyptian soldiers drowned in the waters from which God had saved the Israelites.

The Israelites’ response in our scripture today is complex, a mixture of acknowledging the work of God in their salvation and celebration of the destruction of their Egyptian enemy. Can we put ourselves in those Israelite’s place? Emotionally exhausted, hearts pounding, checking to make sure all family members are present and safe, I think we all can identify with praising God for being saved from slavery. I cannot tell you how I would have reacted to watching the Egyptians being washed away. I most likely would have been horrified at first, but after that initial response, would I have celebrated their deaths?

We are called to a higher standard in Luke 6:27-31, Jesus says, ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Perhaps the lesson from the Exodus story starts at its beginning when a Pharaoh observed the worth of a talented Israelite slave and engaged him as a significant official in Egypt’s governance. When we do to others as we would have them do to us, the whole world is blessed.

Prayer: Lord, enable our doing unto others as we would have others do to us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.