Monday, April 4, 2016

Israel's Salvation

The Gift of Faith
Restorative Faith

A Reversal of Shame

Exodus 14:30-15:8  The Message

29-31 But the Israelites walked right through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall to the right and to the left. God delivered Israel that day from the oppression of the Egyptians. And Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea, and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.
15 1-8 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God, giving voice together,
I’m singing my heart out to God—what a victory!
    He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
God is my strength, God is my song,
    and, yes! God is my salvation.
This is the kind of God I have
    and I’m telling the world!
This is the God of my father—
    I’m spreading the news far and wide!
God is a fighter,
    pure God, through and through.
Pharaoh’s chariots and army
    he dumped in the sea,
The elite of his officers
    he drowned in the Red Sea.
Wild ocean waters poured over them;
    they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.
Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power;
    your strong right hand shatters the enemy.
In your mighty majesty
    you smash your upstart enemies,
You let loose your hot anger
    and burn them to a crisp.
At a blast from your nostrils
    the waters piled up;
Tumbling streams dammed up,
    wild oceans curdled into a swamp.

 
For Reflection 
What does salvation mean to you?  To the Israelites it meant physical relief from the torment of life.  God initiated the Exodus, Gave them a strong civic and spiritual leader, paved the way and protected them on their journey.  It was their opportunity to live as God had intend them to live.  It was their opportunity to witness to the power and grace of God.

We often think of salvation as spiritual, a reward for good behavior, or a ticket into God's presence after death.  Think on the other possible ways you could experience salvation in the here and now.

Pray
thanking God for God's never ending mercy and compassion.  Pray so that you will live in the grace of God.  Pray so that you will become saved from the seductions of everyday life.  Pray so that you become the human God has intended you to become.

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