Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

 Lord Worthy of Praise

Exodus 15: 1-18

Exodus Chapter 15, verses 1-18, tells of the story of the children of Israel along with Moses singing praises to the Lord following their safe passage through the Red Sea. The ferocious sea hurls the chariots, horses, and the best of the Pharaoh’s army, while it offers a safe passage for the Israelites. While water is death for the Pharaohs, it is symbolic of life and salvation for the Israelites. In many ancient cultures and religions, inducing Hinduism, the ritualistic use of water for purification is a common practice. Followers of John the Baptist, known as Mandaeans, even today continue their religious practice called “Mandaeism.” A key feature of their faith practice is baptism, not as a onetime activity, but as a regular ritual for salvation of the soul. Here again the power of water as a source of transformation is obvious. 
In this chapter, the God of Moses is also the God of his forefathers. It is an everlasting relationship and a legacy that we cherish and continue through our children. When Moses says, “I will sing to the Lord,” he is singing to the Lord and not to anyone around them, and the praise is filled with singing and dancing. For Moses, Miriam, and the Israelites, the Lord is their strength and song. When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. They are singing because the victory they accomplished is God’s victory and something they could never achieve. Man had no role in this victory.  When they say that the Lord has become our salvation, they also recognize that they cannot save themselves. The turbulent water, while it is death for the Pharaohs, is a source of salvation for the Israelites. It is beginning of the end of their slavery to the pharaohs. It gives them a new identity. When we are a new being in Christ, our bondage to the old ways of life end, and we take on a new identity.  

 
Prayer 
Thank you Lord for giving us the grace to navigate the difficult pathways in our lives, to reconcile differences, and to accept with serenity the things we cannot change.

Thought for the day:
As I walked out of the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison. – Nelson Mandela

Dr. Dennis Cherian
MTC Greater Washington

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