I am a biblical archaeology and geography enthusiast. When I read this week’s text I can’t help but think of the multitude of theories that surround the actual location where the crossing of the Red Sea took place. Not only is the location debated, but I recently watched a documentary that scientifically explained how the parting of the Red Sea was possible through natural causes. I find both of these quite entertaining.

The location means little to me because no matter where it took place, God performed a miracle. Either the deep sea was parted for the people of God to walk through on dry land, or, as some believe, they passed through in a shallow portion and the entire Egyptian Army was drowned in shallow water.

Equally entertaining is the fact that some discount the parting of the sea as a scientific anomaly that may or may not have been brought on by God. If the creator of the earth wants to do something as simple as to separate a body of water, I believe it is well within his power and prerogative to do so.

The fact is God is sovereign. God has absolute lordship over all he created. Deuteronomy 10:17 tells us, “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God.”* Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.” God created the earth and has the right and power to control it as he sees fit.

REMEMBERING HIS SOVEREIGNTY
This was difficult for the people of God to understand. As they saw the entire Egyptian army coming toward them with the intention, they believed, of killing them all, the sovereignty of God was not foremost on their minds. Instead, they gave their typical list of complaints: Moses had brought them out of slavery to die in the desert; slavery in Egypt really wasn’t that bad; and death at the hands of the Egyptian army was imminent. This was understandable. The army is on one side and the sea is on the other.

But are we really much different? In the midst of a financial crisis, in the presence of family illness and death, when facing marriage trouble, or whatever the problem of the day happens to be, how often do we cease to trust in the sovereignty of God? We look for help from all kinds of sources, and we complain to as many friends, family, and coworkers as will listen, but we often fail to take our Egyptian army to God in prayer. I am guilty of it. The problem at hand becomes the center of my world—there is nothing else.

At such “Red Sea” moments we need to allow God to be God. God brought a huge wind to dry the ground and hold back the water on either side of his children. He miraculously allowed his children to cross safely to the other side—at night no less, with only the light of the moon and the pillar of fire he provided. Then, just before dawn, he allowed the sea to begin flowing in on top of the Egyptian army.

DECIDING TO SURRENDER
What did God ask of his people in order to provide this miraculous escape? He asked for obedience and their surrender to his plan. God says to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to move on” (v. 15, New International Version). He says he is providing a means of escape and they should take it. Did they have to? No. Did they want to? Yes.

The sovereign God offered them a means of escape because he cared for them, and he continues to care for his children today. There is no army so large God cannot defeat it. His protection is available. There are no enemies so large God cannot defeat them. His protection is available. We do not have the power to save ourselves. We are completely reliant upon God to save us for all eternity. His protection from the wages of our sin is available. But just as the people of God did in Exodus, we must move beyond complaining about our circumstances to the place where we trust in God’s will—no matter what his will may be.

This may mean we don’t get the answer we want, but God sees a bigger picture than our immediate problem and he always has our best interests in mind. We are eternally his. We are eternally protected if we have surrendered our lives to him. Romans 6:13 says, “Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”

For discussion:
1. Why is it hard to surrender to God?
2. What do you need to surrender to God?
3. How do you go about completely surrendering this issue to God’s will?  

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*All Scriptures are from the New Living Translation, unless otherwise indicated.