Finding Protection

June 28, 2009

Background Scripture: Exodus 13:17 – 14:30
Lesson Passage: Exodus 14:15 – 25, 30a

The topic of our lesson today is Finding Protection. Put another way, the lesson is about trusting God for protection. God’s divine protection had been occurring all along as the Hebrews were spared many times the plagues that wreaked havoc on the Egyptians. After they were run out of the land of Egypt, God’s protection continued in that he provided a route for them that would prevent them from losing heart before they had grown to truly trust him. God led them the long way from Goshen to Canaan to avoid confrontation with the warrior nations along the Mediterranean coast. To further boaster their confidence, God provided a visible presence for them day and night. God provided a cloud to guide them in the day and a pillar of fire to guide them at night and to provide light so that they could travel both night and day. At the same time that God was leading them, he was also setting a trap for Pharaoh’s military which was pursuing them. God allowed Israel to witness the Egyptian military pursuing them. He moved his visible presence from the front of their procession to the rear so that he would be a physical barrier between the Egyptians and Israel. Israel was given light at night but the Egyptians were cast in darkness.

In spite of these visible signs of God’s protection and presence, Israel saw two choices: serve the Egyptians or die. Israel saw the desert as sure death for them at the hands of the Egyptians. God had another option for them—he would do the fighting for them. With the Red Sea as a barrier on one side and Egyptians on the other, Israel saw their situation as hopeless and that their very lives were in danger. Their danger was God’s opportunity. God again used Moses as his divinely appointed representative to encourage the people and lift his rod out over the Red Sea. God sent a wind that blew during the night and created a dry path through the midst of the sea. What was a barrier had become a way out. Although Israel was not always perceptive of God’s gracious help, ironically, the Egyptians discerned that God was fighting for Israel. This created fear in the Egyptians and they tried to run away but God was not going to allow them to escape. Israel’s way out had become the Egyptians trap. After Israel had crossed through the midst of the Red Sea on dry ground, God caused the sea to close up again and overflow the Egyptians and their chariots. In spite of their fear and lack of faith, God had rescued Israel again. This miracle gave them courage for the moment and they could enjoy the protection that God had given on that day and rehearse it in the hearing of their children forever.


Robert C. Hudson
June 4, 2009