COME AS A CHILD LESSON 130 – THE MEANING OF A SPECIAL NEW SONG

WHAT IT MEANS TO CROSS THE RED SEA

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

God had told Abraham his people would be oppressed in Egypt 400 years. (Genesis 15:13-15) And he said unto Abram, “Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”

It all happened just as God had said it would.  It was exactly 400 years to the day when they began to cross the Red Sea and walk through walls of water to the other shore.  A new song is recorded in Exodus Chapter 15 that speaks of their deliverance from Egypt.  This is not the Song of Moses; but it is often called the Song of The Sea.  Moses must have been quite a song writer; much like David perhaps, because we know of at least three songs that he is given credit for writing.  This song is a triumphant description of the power of God as the defender of Israel.  Verses 1-21 sing about the things of the sea.  It speaks in this first half about what God has done.  The second half of the song is prophetic in nature and it speaks of the things that God will do in the future.

It is always the same; every ending is a new beginning!  The redemption from slavery ended their bondage.  The free life that now belonged to them began a whole new adventure for the people of God.  What better start to a whole new way of life than a victory song sung in joy and celebrated in dance?

These moments are the moments I love about how our Heavenly Father lives!  He celebrates all of the markers and places in life that are significant.  I think we all could do with much more celebration of the good things that have happened and much less grumbling of the things that we think have gone wrong.  Why dwell on what we consider impossible when we serve a mighty God who can do the impossible? 

The people’s hope turned to sheer joy as they paused on the other side and realized the miracle they had just lived through.  Both the men and the women were given parts of this song and they all sang in harmony.  Miriam was 90 years old, but she was singing and dancing with the timbrel – leading the music for all the other women.  Moses and Aaron were not “spring chickens” either!  They were leading the men in making a joyful noise unto God who had led them to cross over the sea.  They had all “passed over” the sea!   Again, death had been defeated and new life had been given!

I wonder how many of them thought of the miracle as it was happening?  I wonder how many picked up a seashell from the bed of the ocean and put it in their pocket to remind them of this day?  Long after the day of joy and celebration they all would be telling the story of this day to the next generation!  What an amazing time it was!  They would forever speak of God’s miracles to their children and grandchildren.  They would always remember and proclaim the prototype they were shown of the final redemption of men’s souls!   Now all of the many, many years have passed and we still hear the story fresh, as if it happened yesterday.  That within itself is a major miracle of God.  

In the days ahead; when the tribulations come; those who overcome the world will also experience a similar deliverance (Revelation 15: 1-4.)  I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:  seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.  And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name.  They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the Lamb:  “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, King of the nations, Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 

My friends, we too have a sea to cross!  Let us cross it singing the praises of God.

Our future and hope is based upon these actions of God from the past.  We can be assured of the things God WILL DO based upon the things that we already know HE HAS DONE.  

So get ready!  We will cross the sea!

God’s faithfulness never changes.  

He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.