Dry or Wet Faith?

But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 

Exodus 14:29

I came across a story many years ago concerning General George Washington (George Washington was an American political leader, military general, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Previously, he led Patriot forces to victory in the nation's War for Independence.)

General Washington was approaching one of the fiercest battles of his campaign.

He and his troops had crossed over a bridge as they were nearing the battle when one of his officers came to him and asked whether or not to burn the bridge behind them.

(It was customary to burn the bridges as they crossed over them to prevent the enemy from slipping up on them from behind & to prevent soldiers from running away from the battle when it became too hot to handle.)

The great General Washington looked toward the battle and then looked back to where they had come from and then back toward the battle and then gave his answer.

“Burn the bridge, it is either victory or death.”

When the Hebrews had finally fled Egypt  it was pretty much the same story. God's providence had persuaded Pharaoh to let them leave and those who had been enslaved were set free. So things were moving from good to better. But then as they were barely out of town, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them who were now looking for a new future.

Moses led them to the edge of the Red Sea. Once they reach there things start to look worse. Before them is the deep sea and behind them is the raging army of Pharaoh. Where were they to go? What were they to do?

Yet this is the moment the Bible claims as one of the greatest moments of "by faith" living. Faced with a choice between the army and the deep sea, Moses took God's word for it, and chose the sea. Moses trusted God for the future over the past.

According to most of the translations Moses stretched out his arms and the Lord parted the sea giving dry ground for the Israelites to walk. But British Rabbi and theologian Louis Jacob in his book Jewish Preaching gives a slightly different interpretation which captured my attention and so sharing it with you as it gives a new perspective.

"In the Hebrew story-telling there is often a placing of bookends that frame a story, and sometimes a story within a story. In the Exodus 14 telling of the story, verses 21-29 frame a summarial story within the story with verses 21 and 29 the bookends. Verse 22 says, "and the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." The ending of verse 29: "But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, with a wall of water on their right and on their left."

I hope you saw the difference. The first group of Israelites had to get wet. They "went into the sea" before they found the "dry ground". With those first tentative steps of faith got their feet wet. Psalm 69:1-2 which many Hebrew traditions call to be "The Psalm of Moses" says, "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the deep mire where there is no foothold."

All of us at some time or another have found ourselves in position where waters have risen up to our necks. Can we follow Moses' example? When our feet get wet, when our knees get wet, when our thighs get wet, when our chest gets wet, can we still keep on walking? Are we able to still keep on trusting God?

There were those who first stepped forth in faith by entering the risky unknown and as they moved forward the wet land became dry ground. But a bulk of Israelites waited for the first group to test the water. Both had different experience of the waters.

This time of home stay and being locked down has given us an opportunity to introspect our lives. How was our walk before this pandemic? Were we walking "through the sea on dry ground" or on "dry ground through sea?"

Dear Friends, I admit that there were times at personal level, at work place and also spiritually where I felt waters rising up to the neck. And I admit that I was not able to find God parting the waters for me on a regular basis. Many instances I wanted the walls of divine protection but was not able to see it. But I must confess that I personally and we as a family did encounter on a daily basis miracles of grace and goodness.

This Lenten Season just like the Israelites we are doomed. With the Corono Virus spreading each day there is no human way for escape. With the Red Sea in front and Pharaoh’s army behind the Israelites had to trust God. So do you and me. He will deliver.

God Bless You