Day 17 – Exodus: The Story

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:13-14 NLT

Exodus sketches the story of slavery, rescue (or redemption), guidance, the Ten Commandments, and the nation of Israel. Through this historical recollection, we learn of God’s mercy towards His chosen people and keeping His promises – just as He loves you and me today, too – His chosen children through Jesus Christ.  It sketches the story of our spiritual lives too.

First, we are slaves in our sin in a foreign land ruled by a world we follow blindly through our lusts and desires until we meet our Rescuer, Jesus Christ, redeeming us and setting us free from the sin which enslaved us. As we grow, we learn to follow God’s guidance and rely on Him for all our needs. As Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” right before the Red Sea was parted giving them an escape from the pursuing Egyptians. Fourthly, we learn God’s laws through His Word, which gives us a moral compass to align our hearts with righteousness by becoming a disciple of Jesus and Christlike in our thoughts, words, and actions. And lastly, we know and understand that we are saved for eternal life with our Creator as His children through salvation. We, the church, are the nation of the Gentiles.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us such a rich history that applies to our lives today too. May we learn and understand more of You through Exodus and just stay calm and trust in Your protection and guidance. When our backs are against a river with the enemy on our heels remind us to look to You and to know that You will fight for us. Amen.