Torah portion: Exodus 13:17-15:26; Numbers 28:19-25

Pesach 2

Passover brought deliverance for Israel but judgment on Egyptians who did not fear God, in spite of the plagues which testified to His power. The shortest route for the newly-freed slaves would have been the road through Philistine country, but God knew that Israel was not yet ready to fight. At that point, such opposition would have made them turn round to return to Egypt.

Instead, the Lord led them into another apparently impossible situation and worked a mighty miracle: He made a way through the Red Sea. It was so unmistakably a work of God that His name was revered throughout surrounding nations and the story has gone down in history the world over.

Deliverance and Healing

The Lord led the fleeing Israelites by the pillar of cloud and fire to separate them from the pursuing Egyptians. Moses had spoken with authority that they only needed to stand still to see the deliverance of the Lord, but God challenged Moses to stop crying out to Him - for it was time to move (we, too, can be in situations where we are praying earnestly, believing that we can trust the Lord, but also need to recognise when we need to act on this faith).

Freedom for Israel meant destruction for Pharaoh’s army, and in response the people feared God, putting their trust in Him and in His servant Moses. There was great celebration and praise. However, after three days travelling without water, there was grumbling. The water they did find at Marah was undrinkable – another test of their faith - until the Lord intervened.

In healing the waters, the Lord revealed to Israel that He would be their Healer, but there were conditions: listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees. Then the Lord would meet their needs, they would be recognised as distinct from other nations and the Lord’s name would be glorified.

The Lord’s Conditions

When Yeshua was about to fulfil Passover by offering Himself at the Cross, He gave final instructions to His disciples, again with promises and conditions:

• “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples; if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
• “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)
• “If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit: apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
• “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)
• “…you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

As Israel was brought out of Egypt, so we have been chosen out of the world to live a life set apart for the Lord. If we listen carefully to His voice with a willingness to obey what He says, He will meet our needs as He provided for Israel in the desert.

Let us not complain when we face difficulties - but trust in the Lord and remember that He “is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20).

Author: Catharine Pakington