Living in the Spirit
September 8, 2014
Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:19-31
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.’ — Exodus 14:19-25
The second movie I ever saw as a child was The Ten Commandments. Thus Cecil B. DeMille’s rendition of the Israelites crossing the sea will probably always pop into my brain whenever I read our scripture today. I now know that high drama is not reality but in some instances it may speak the truth more than the real situation. The truth is that Moses believed in the God he had encountered in Midian as did apparently at least a fragment of the Israelites back in Egypt. Some were probably revolutionaries itching to fight for their freedom. But for some the tradition of the God of Abraham had remained a vital part of their lives as it was passed down through the generations. The remaining multitudes were hungry for a better life and were willing to follow those who promised it.
The anthropologist Margaret Mead said, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. She is describing story after story in the Bible. None more obvious than Jesus and his disciples. That is our heritage in faith and one we must cling to in times like these when God’s love is the only solution to the many evils that we face.
We are called to remember the traditions of the first disciples sent by Jesus into the world to spread the news of God’s love, the salvation given us through Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We spread that word best by living it.
Prayer: God of Wonder, keep afresh the dreams you planted in us when we first discovered you. Make them our vision for the world today so that we might live into them. Amen