This sheet on Exodus 14 was written by Zack Bodner for 929 and can also be found here
One of the most dramatic stories of the Bible involves the parting of the Red Sea. It is filled with lessons of leadership, tenacity and taking action.
Moses has led the Children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. They have been journeying day and night when they finally reach a dead end: the shores of the Red Sea. The Israelites are tired but this is no time to rest because when they turn around, they see the most fearsome army of the time barreling down upon them! Pharaoh’s army of horses and chariots is pursuing them in a single, united, terrifying force.
The Israelites scream at Moses: “Were there no graves in Egypt? Did you have to take us all the way out here to die?!”
Moses tries to reassure them, as any good leader would, yet he does so at first only by praying for God to intervene. God famously replies, “Why do you cry out to me?”
God requires more than just words, more than prayers, more than fear-filled pleas. God demands of Moses, “Raise up your staff, stretch out your arm over the sea, and split it!”
So Moses finally does, and the sea splits, allowing the Israelites to flee until the walls of the sea come crashing down on Pharaoh and his army.
How often have we come to a place along a new journey, only to run into a challenge that we hadn’t expected and then doubt ourselves and wish that things could just go back to the way they were?
How many times have we moved on, but then looked at the unknown future ahead of us with fear and longed for whatever enslaved us in the past, telling ourselves, “Well it wasn’t really that bad”?
And how many times have we asked, pleaded, prayed for a solution to our challenge – hoping that words would be enough?
I can picture God chastising Moses (along with future Jewish leaders) who might wring their hands and beg for Divine intervention, doing nothing to take matters into their own hands: “Why do you call out to me? Raise up your staff!”
This is a story about not giving up and turning back. This is a story about moving forward, even when we are scared. But above all, this is a story about taking action and making our own destiny.
Moses has led the Children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. They have been journeying day and night when they finally reach a dead end: the shores of the Red Sea. The Israelites are tired but this is no time to rest because when they turn around, they see the most fearsome army of the time barreling down upon them! Pharaoh’s army of horses and chariots is pursuing them in a single, united, terrifying force.
The Israelites scream at Moses: “Were there no graves in Egypt? Did you have to take us all the way out here to die?!”
Moses tries to reassure them, as any good leader would, yet he does so at first only by praying for God to intervene. God famously replies, “Why do you cry out to me?”
God requires more than just words, more than prayers, more than fear-filled pleas. God demands of Moses, “Raise up your staff, stretch out your arm over the sea, and split it!”
So Moses finally does, and the sea splits, allowing the Israelites to flee until the walls of the sea come crashing down on Pharaoh and his army.
How often have we come to a place along a new journey, only to run into a challenge that we hadn’t expected and then doubt ourselves and wish that things could just go back to the way they were?
How many times have we moved on, but then looked at the unknown future ahead of us with fear and longed for whatever enslaved us in the past, telling ourselves, “Well it wasn’t really that bad”?
And how many times have we asked, pleaded, prayed for a solution to our challenge – hoping that words would be enough?
I can picture God chastising Moses (along with future Jewish leaders) who might wring their hands and beg for Divine intervention, doing nothing to take matters into their own hands: “Why do you call out to me? Raise up your staff!”
This is a story about not giving up and turning back. This is a story about moving forward, even when we are scared. But above all, this is a story about taking action and making our own destiny.
Zack Bodner is the CEO of the Oshman Family JCC of Palo Alto, CA.
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