The Israelites were trapped. In front of them was the Red Sea and behind them was the army of the Egyptians. What could they do? There was no way for them to escape. But then God moved the pillar of cloud that had been in front of the Israelites to behind them. This showed that God went between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The Lord was not going to leave the Israelites alone but was going to fight the battle for them.

And that is exactly what God did. He was the one who saved the Israelites. We know the miracle that God did. He made a pathway through the water of the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass through. He provided the light so the Israelites could see as they walked between the walls of water. And God was the one who broke the wheels of the chariots of the Egyptians as they tried crossing to catch the Israelites. God was the one who cause the water to fall back onto the Egyptians so that they all drowned in the Red Sea.

God saved the Israelites.

We are also trapped. No, not between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, but we are trapped in our sins. Yes, we have been saved by Jesus Christ, but we still are so tempted by sin. So often we do the wrong things. We try so hard to stop sinning, but we do it again and again. We are trapped in our sin and cannot escape. We cannot save ourselves.

But God saves us, just like he saved the Israelites. He fights the battle for us. He rescues us from our sinfulness and makes us his children. Every time again he forgives our sins and helps us fight against them. He helps us to love him and to serve him. And one day, on the new earth, we will serve him perfectly without any sin at all.

Let us praise God in our actions and in our singing, just like the Israelites sang praises to God for saving them.

Reflection with your child:

What can we learn about God’s love for us from this miracle at the Red Sea?

Source: Sermon by Rev. J. Poppe