‘Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall be still.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. ‘Exodus 14:13-15
Spending time in nature
When spending time in nature this week, see if you can be a water bender. Find a When God brought Israel out of Egypt, He sent them many wonders. One of the greatest wonders was dividing the Red Sea. Find or create a small puddle and see if you can divide the waters. Can you blow on the water with enough force to separate it? Is there a different element you can use to separate the water? If you can’t be outside, try putting a small amount of water in a bowl and see if you can divide the water in the bowl. Once everyone has had some fun with the liquid, try a simple experiment to cause the separation. In a bowl, add a small amount of water. Sprinkle pepper on the water. Take a Q-tip slightly covered in a small amount of dish soap and dip it in the pepper-covered water. You should see all the pepper move to the edges of the bowl. The dish soap (at least for a thin layer) was able to part the water. The Israelites walked under the cloud, and in the sea, in doing so, God baptized them (1 Corinthians 10:2). They declared they were willing to follow God no matter where He led them. In Egypt, the believers didn’t have to do anything to show they were part of Israel; walking through the Red Sea required action on their part.
Tip
God went across the sea without leaving a single foot print. As humans our minds can create solutions, but there are somethings only God can do. “When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.” Psalm 77:16-19
Do Something Creative
Create a family, or individual diorama, depicting the scene when Pharaoh caught up to Israel at the Red Sea. Divide the shoebox with a sheet of black construction paper. On one side of the shoebox, create a scene showing Pharaoh’s army, stuck in darkness. On the other side of the shoe box creative scene of Israel moving across the Red Sea. This craft can be as extravagant or simple as you would like. If you would like a simple version, print off some coloring pages of the scene. Color them in and glue them inside the shoe box. If you would like more detail, then create a backdrop, add people, horses, riders, chariots, Israelites, and animals inside the Red Sea. This craft could take a lot of time, so you can carry this activity on through worship as well. Some examples can be found online.
What you will need:
- Shoebox
- Molding clay
- Paints
- Crepe paper (Yellow, blue, red, tan, grey, etc.)
- Pipe cleaners
- Fish string
- Glue
- Construction Paper
- Scissors
Family worship idea
While you read Exodus 13 and 14, finish adding details to your diorama or play ocean noises with dimmed lights as everyone sits by their own Pillar of Fire (a candle). As you’re reading, think about what the Israelites were going through. In a moment, they all had their freedom, but they were always afraid they were going to get drugged back to Egypt. Now their captor is pursuing them and they have no way to escape. God needed to show them He is bigger than their worst fear. God shows us that He’s bigger than our worst fears as well, He gives the greatest peace to believers. There are villages struck with poverty, but because of their belief, they can’t help but feel joy. His peace has brought people through being prisoners of war. The disciples and Christians during the dark ages didn’t fear death, because their hope was so much greater. The Israelites had been slaves for so long, that their belief was still there but their fate was diminished. They would wander through the desert because their faith wouldn’t allow them to see this God who brought down the greatest Kingdom they knew could also destroy the small Kingdoms in the land of Canaan. It is very important we believe, but it is more important than our faith guides our belief.
Personal thoughts
God spared Israel from warring the Philistines by bringing them to the Red Sea, an impassable path. God often brings us to challenges that might seem unpassable, but the victory might not be ours; God may be trying to show us His wonders. When we trust God, He has a habit of helping us change the world in small ways. We leave our past life behind in a battle formation, ready to take on any challenge that comes before us (Exodus 14:2, Numbers 33:6, Jos 1:14), but our battle is against spiritual wickedness. With our faith in God, we can win this battle. The only weapon we have as we enter this war is the word of God. Everything else comes from seeking and searching for God (Ephesians 6:10-18). When the pillar of fire and cloud separated the Israelites from the Egyptians, “the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them” (Exodus 14:19). We should be assured God will guard us (Psalm 91:11-12) at the moment God shows His wonders. Moses promised the Israelites that they will be still while God fights Pharaoh’s Army (Exodus 14:14). Though we are brought to the shadow of death, faith is enough to carry us through. The darkness and light did not touch one another (Exodus 14:20). Israel had light shining in the darkness, and the darkness would not overcome it (John 1:5).
Hiding His word in your ❤
But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Messiah down); or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Messiah up from the dead.)” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we proclaim: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a proclaimer? And how will they proclaim unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Roman’s 10: 6-18
Sabbath Catalyst 