A Trusted Servant

Exodus 14:30-31 (NIVUK) —

‘That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.’

In today’s devotional, I want us to jump to the end of the story, after the Israelites have crossed the Red Sea, and as they begin to make sense of what just happened. The Lord had delivered them and they had been saved from the Egyptians, exactly as Moses had told them would happen.

Earlier in the chapter in verse 16 the LORD tells Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand toward the sea so that they could cross on dry land. Then, in verses 21 and 26, God tells Moses to stretch out his hand to bring the waves crashing down. God intentionally used Moses to outwork his plan for the Israelites. He knew that working through him, the Israelites would trust Moses and continue to follow him. Eventually, he would lead them to Mount Sinai where the Lord would make a covenant with them, promising that they would become a ‘holy nation’.

Moses didn’t achieve this trust with any special skills or by pretending he had it all figured out himself: he was servant-hearted. He had to obey God’s commands in order to gain the trust of others. In the same way, when we follow the call to be faithful servants, we invite the Lord to work through us to reach those around us. Most Christians don’t come to faith through hearing the direct voice of God, but instead are pointed towards him through the words and actions of those already living in relationship with him.

This week we’ve delved a little deeper into a story that is an incredible display of God’s power. But it’s also a story about how, when we trust God, we can live in freedom from the anxiety that comes with not knowing the path ahead.

Prayer - Lord, thank you that we don’t need any qualifications in order for you to use us to draw people into relationship with you. I pray that this week we would know the peace that comes with trusting you.