Exodus 15:1-21 (NIV): ‘
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.“In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’
But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?“You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies.
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone – until your people pass by, Lord, until the people you bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance – the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.“The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”
When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
Again, Selwyn makes some very instructive observations on today’s text.
The first point is obvious – ‘the natural response to redemption is praise; … praise and worship are our our main reasons for living’.
In this remarkable song that comes from the mouths of the Israelites, we are told by Selwyn that it’s in two parts: “The first part (vv 1-12) focuses on the deliverance from Egypt, and the second part (vv 13-18) focuses on the entrance into the promised land. The Israelites recognised that the total exodus experience consisted not only of coming out of Egypt but also involved entry into the promised land.”
Now, for the most important observation – please, meditate on these words during this day: “Redemption is not only from sin but also into the new life that is in Christ. We are not just saved from sin but saved to take possession of the thrilling inheritance that has been made ours by Jesus. Has this truth really gripped your heart?”
‘Many Christians see their salvation only in terms of having been forgiven, and have little awareness of what lies ahead. God longs to bring you into the promised land. Have you been brought out of Egypt? Good. Now press forward into … ‘ our inheritance, heaven.
Sometimes, I hear people ask, ‘Are you saved?’ As if, that’s the end of the issue – as, if the journey across the desert does not exist – as if, following Jesus is ‘only’ the moment, when we first accepted Him into our life. Perhaps, that’s why in some churches there are people who utter praise and worship with their lips giving thanks for their salvation, but their daily actions just don’t display the love of Jesus flowing from their hearts.
Being saved and taking hold of our inheritance is a life-long journey, ‘He is guiding us, each day, to His holy dwelling‘ (v14). The salvation journey only ends with our death; or, as I hope – when Jesus returns, SOON!