A Perspective Corrective

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 14 Listen: (4:46) Read: Matthew 25 Listen: (6:04)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 14.2-4; 23-28

2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived

Reflection: A Perspective Corrective

By John Tillman

When filled with pride or fear, our perspective often needs a corrective.

The judicial hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was punishment for Pharaoh’s unjust treatment of the Israelites and for Pharaoh hardening his own heart despite repeated miraculous signs.

Pharaoh’s hard heart led to increasingly terrible decisions bringing destruction to Pharaoh and Egypt’s army, but knowledge of God and his power to the people of Egypt and the world. “The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 14.18)

At the beginning of Exodus the Pharaoh wanted to “deal shrewdly” with the Israelites (Exodus 1.10). In this passage, any shreds of shrewdness or acumen are abandoned. Pharaoh’s hard heart warped his perspective.

From Pharaoh’s perspective, Israel was fleeing (v 5). From the perspective of Moses, Israel was “marching out boldly.” (v 8) From Pharaoh’s perspective, Israel was wandering “in confusion.” (v 3) From Moses’ perspective, Pharaoh and his army would soon be thrown into confusion (v 24). From Pharaoh’s perspective, Israel was defenseless and disobedient workers, wandering the desert with their belongings, herds, women, and children (v 5). From God’s perspective, the group was an “army” that his power would protect (v 19).

Blind to the truth of what was happening, and blind to the potential consequences of his actions, Pharaoh charged recklessly into the sea where he and his army were destroyed. This can happen to anyone who repeatedly hardens their heart to facts, the scriptures, or God’s revelation, but it is especially dangerous in leaders.

Pharaoh’s wasn’t the only flawed perspective. Fear twisted the perspective of the Israelite’s hearts.

They thought the slavery behind them would be preferable to death (Exodus 14.12), when the path through the sea, representing death and chaos, was the only way to life (Exodus 14.29). They thought they would be buried in the shallow sands of the desert (Exodus 14.11) when Egypt’s army would soon be buried in the waters of the sea (Exodus 14.27-28).

Whether your heart is filled with fear or pride, let the Lord’s perspective be a corrective to your own. Ask God to remove pride and soften your heart. Ask God to quell fear and strengthen your resolve.

The path to life leads through the waters, the valley of the shadow of chaos and death. We are resurrected after we carry our cross, not before. We are saved after passing through the danger, not before.

Despite armies of doubt or hate, march boldly, stand with Jesus, and experience his deliverance.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Deliverance belongs to the Lord. Your blessing be upon your people! — Psalm 3.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos

Chaos may block our way, with destruction only steps behind us. God is with us in these times.

Read more: Blessings of the Dispossessed

Isaac is unfairly treated; he is forced by violence to move on; he is even relocated by government order.

Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos

Scripture Focus: Exodus 14.19-20
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 

Reflection: Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos
By John Tillman

The crossing of the Red Sea is dramatic, but it was not an instant miracle. The waters did not rush backward in seconds or in dramatic slow motion. We do not know exactly what it looked like but we do know that it took all night long for the waters to be blown back and the path to dry out. 

During the night the people were protected by the pillar of cloud and fire, which brought them light and their enemies darkness. Despite this, the night must still have been one of sustained tension and anxiety as the wind blew and the waters slowly parted and dried up.

The imagery of the Red Sea crossing reflects parts of the Genesis creation account and establishes God as the ruler over creation. Many in the ancient world viewed large bodies of water as symbols of chaos. It is this kind of watery chaos and darkness that is depicted in Genesis when God’s Spirit is hovering over the waters before causing dry land to appear. (Genesis 1.2)

To part the waters for Israel, God’s Spirit sends an “East wind” that blows on the waters through the night, exposing dry land. An “East wind” did not necessarily blow from the East, as we would think of it. 

In Hebrew climatology, different types of winds came from the four corners of the Earth. Wind from “the East” was associated with dryness. It was a wilderness wind that destroyed vegetation. On this night, the wilderness wind brought order to the chaos of the sea, driving it back and drying the land beneath. From the chaos of the sea and the wilderness wind, God brings order and a highway to salvation.

In our lives, we may spend many anxious nights facing chaos. We may wait in tension and darkness, needing a miracle. Chaos may block our way, with destruction only steps behind us.

God is with us in these times. 

We have no pillar of cloud, but we have the guidance and protection of his Word. 
We have no wind to blow across the chaos, but we are filled with the wind of the Holy Spirit that brings order to our chaotic hearts and minds. 
When we face turbulent, chaotic waves, we have the foundation of Jesus Christ upon which to make our stand and the footsteps of the Savior in which to place our feet.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Come now and see the works of God, how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people. — Psalm 66.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Exodus 14 (Listen 4:46
Matthew 25 (Listen 6:04)

This Weekend’s Readings
Exodus 15 (Listen 4:11),  Matthew 26 (Listen 10:01)
Exodus 16 (Listen 5:02),  Matthew 27 (Listen 8:45)

Read more about Circumstances Matter
Pharaoh claimed they were lazy, but what he really feared was any thoughts of freedom.

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Our ministry of providing ad-free devotional content to inboxes across the world would not be possible without our donors. Consider joining them with a gift of your own.

Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos

Scripture Focus: Exodus 14.19-20
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 

Reflection: Anxious Nights Between Destruction and Chaos
By John Tillman

The crossing of the Red Sea is dramatic, but it was not an instant miracle. The waters did not rush backward in seconds or in dramatic slow-motion. We do not know exactly what it looked like but we do know that it took all night long for the waters to be blown back and the path to dry out. 

During the night the people were protected by the pillar of cloud and fire, which brought them light and their enemies darkness. Despite this, the night must still have been one of sustained tension and anxiety as the wind blew and the waters slowly parted and dried up.

The imagery of the Red Sea crossing reflects parts of the Genesis creation account and establishes God as the ruler over creation. Many in the ancient world viewed large bodies of water as symbols of chaos. It is this kind of watery chaos and darkness that is depicted in Genesis when God’s Spirit is hovering over the waters before causing dry land to appear. (Genesis 1.2)

To part the waters for Israel, God’s Spirit sends an “East wind” that blows on the waters through the night, exposing dry land. An “East wind” did not necessarily blow from the East, as we would think of it. 

In Hebrew climatology, different types of winds came from the four corners of the Earth. Wind from “the East” was associated with dryness. It was a wilderness wind that destroyed vegetation. On this night, the wilderness wind brought order to the chaos of the sea, driving it back and drying the land beneath. From the chaos of the sea and the wilderness wind, God brings order and a highway to salvation.

In our lives, we may spend many anxious nights facing chaos. We may wait in tension and darkness, needing a miracle. Chaos may block our way, with destruction only steps behind us.

God is with us in these times. 

We have no pillar of cloud, but we have the guidance and protection of his Word. 
We have no wind to blow across the chaos, but we are filled with the wind of the Holy Spirit that brings order to our chaotic hearts and minds. 
When we face turbulent, chaotic waves, we have the foundation of Jesus Christ upon which to make our stand and the footsteps of the Savior in which to place our feet.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing praises to you among the nations. — Psalm 108.3

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Today’s Readings
Exodus 14  (Listen -4:46)
Luke 17 (Listen – 4:22)

Read more about Jericho’s Wall
The lesson of Jericho’s wall is…if we are unfaithful, we too will face God’s wrath and no wall will stand in its way.

Read more about Captivity, Exile, and Exodus
The formerly oppressed, became oppressors. The formerly abused, became abusers. Israel became Egypt.