The Power of God #2

The Power of God #2
Exodus 14-16 | Psalm 22 | Romans 1

We read recently of God's awesome power in the miraculous signs He performed for Pharoah and the Egyptians to free the Isrealites from slavery. The Israelites had been in Egypt for almost 400 years when Moses, empowered by God, confronted Pharoah demanding the release of God's People. The Israelites themselves witnssed the amazing power of God in the ten plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn sons throughout the land (apart from their own).

Today we read of the Israelites persued by the Egyptians, eventually (after being led by God) hemmed in by the Red Sea. In despair they cried out to Moses and Aaron: "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, `Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Ex. 14:11-12)

After seeing God's power in Egypt the Israelites quickly lost faith, forgetting that God was watching over them and seeking their safe deliverance to the promised land. They could not imagine a way out so they would have given up had Moses not given them reason to continue. As we read, God opened a channel in the sea for the Israelites to walk through on dry ground, delivering His people and glorifying His own name.

It's not uncommon in our day to find ourselves in a tight spot and think (perhaps subconciously) that there is nothing God can do to help us. The Israelites stood on the shore of the Red Sea and failed to imagine any way God could save them - least of all opening a passage in the sea with a wall of water on their left and on their right to bring them safely to the other side.

But we know that God's kingdom and power is not of this world - He does not work in ways we would expect Him to, and has power beyond our comprehension; He created us and all things, He has power and dominion over all things; who are we to think that He cannot help us in a tight situation!

There is a similar thought-pattern in today's psalm: David begins with the infamous, "My God My God, why have you forsaken me?", before considering the glory of God "enthroned as the Holy One" and remembering that his ancestors (the Israelites preceeding him) had put their trust in God. David eventually concludes that God has not abandoned him, but has listened to his cry for help, giving him much to praise Him for.

God often works in ways that we do not expect - it is not uncommon for prayer to be answered by God in such a way that we don't realise it has been answered until we look back on the situation to find God's influence. It is at times like these that we find much to thank and praise God for. It is also for this reason that many Christians use a prayer diary to record the topics of their prayers each day.

God used the escape of the Israelites to affect great and miraculous signs, bringing glory to His name. By trusting God's power in your life, bringing problems and praise alike to God in prayer, you too are glorifying His name. Thinking (even subconsciously) that God can't help you in any given situation is the exact opposite.

Praise God for His immense and often surprising power, praying that you may see ever more clearly how He has worked in your life and that you may trust Him especially in the 'tight' situations.