13/2/18 – Exodus 13, Exodus 14 Matthew 27:45-66 Proverbs 4:20-27

Ex 13:19

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”

Moses did as Jospeh had asked before he died. A lot of years had passed – but this promise had not been forgotten. I find it interesting, even though Moses wrote the book of Genesis – there must have been existing sources and material around for him to have known this request. This is before Moses goes up the mountain and receives the law – so this isn’t something revealed to him divinely, but the children of Israel did understand their heritage, where they had come from and how they had arrived in Egypt.

Moses is looking to the future – to the day Joseph also saw coming. But whilst looking to the future he made sure to honour the past.

When we forget where we have come from, we lose our identity. The past matters – the history of our faith and our church are part of who we are. It should not be a shackle, keeping us where we are, but it should be honoured.

Ex 14:13-14

And Moses said to the people, “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.”

This chapter contains one of the greatest, grandest miracles to ever have taken place – the parting of an entire sea. It’s so big, it’s hard to imagine what it must have been like. Art and Media have tried to depict it, but even then it’s hard to capture how this must have been.

But that’s not the part I chose to focus on. Instead, just before that we read about Israel in fear.

And Moses proclaims something very confidently to them. That they should fear not – they should see the salvation of The Lord – that God was going to do something for them today.

As for these Egyptians – these people that have oppressed you for your entire life – you will never see them again.

He ends with – God will do it – all you have to do is be silent. In others words, stop complaining and just watch what God is going to do.

And He did something unexpected, amazing and final.

Are you in fear? Are you stuck in persecution, or attack?

Then these words should comfort us too – because He’s the same God.

Fear not.

Stand firm.

See the salvation of our Lord – He will work for you.

What seems to be such a big problem today, when God moves you will never see it again.

Don’t complain or cry out – but watch what God is going to do.

Mat 27:54

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

I can’t comment on the whole of this section – how can you sum up the most important event in History in a few sentences? To read once again what Jesus did for me and did for you, is more than words can describe.

But as I read, I wonder about this centurion. He saw it all. He saw Jesus not fight it. He heard Jesus ask that God forgive those nailing Him to the cross. He saw the sky turn dark and the earthquake and the veil torn in two.

And he could only come to one conclusion. Truly this was the Son of God.

It’s the only conclusion any of us can make when we really confront the cross. I don’t know what happened to this man afterwards, but I believe he was never the same.

When we come before the facility of the cross, it changes us. If it’s never changed you – you’ve not seriously looked at it.

God himself, nailed to a cross. For you. And me. So that we could be restored into a relationship with God. He’s calling you. He’s already done the work. And He’s asking you – how will you respond to Him?

There’s a song by Hank Williams that comes to mind:

How can you refuse him now, how can you refuse him now?

How can you turn away from his side?

With tears in his eyes, on the cross there he died?

How can you refuse Jesus now?

Prov 4:26-27

Ponder the path of your feet;

then all your ways will be sure.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.

Great advice here – keep an eye one where your feet are going. We are easily swayed – to the left and the right. We are easily knocked off course. Sometimes we don’t even notice, then we wonder – how did I get here?

Keep an eye on your feet. Keep steady. Keep focused. Then all your ways will be sure.