When You See the Deliverance of the Lord

Isn’t this just like us? God begins a deliverance, perhaps from a personal situation or habit. We become free, but we look back over our shoulder and ask, Did I really make the right decision?

Something changes deep inside when you see the deliverance of the Lord. Lips that were once slow of speech and tongue spill thanksgiving dripping with eloquence.

The Israelites had witnessed ten plagues as Moses tried to persuade Pharaoh to let God’s people go. In the middle of one horrific night, reluctant agreement finally came. The people left the land they had resided in for generations, unbaked dough hefted on their shoulders, animals and children ambling along, over a million people strong walking their way to freedom.

And then the army of the Egyptians appeared on the horizon, Pharaoh having changed his mind. Terror struck the Israelites. They were no match against the Egyptians. There seemed no escape. Their children! Wouldn’t it have been better for them to live out their days in Egypt, even as slaves, than to get slaughtered in the desert?

Isn’t this just like us? God begins a deliverance for us, perhaps from a personal situation, a life path, or a habit. We become free, but still feel strings to the past. We look back over our shoulder and wonder, Did I really make the right decision? Maybe I should go back to where it was safe. Sure, I was in bondage, but I knew that bondage. Knowing the present is easier than trusting for the future.

God had other plans for Moses and His people.

He told Moses to lift his staff and stretch out his hand. A strong east wind rose up, the waters of the Red Sea divided, and the people crossed on dry ground, with a wall of water on either side. The Egyptian army followed. Hand stretched out again, the waters overcame the Egyptians.

After four centuries of slavery, the people of Israel were free.

They must have stood, mouths agape, holding tightly to their children, watching the pursuing army meet its death through no effort of their own. How could this be? They were weak, tired. Alive. Free.

Moses, the man whose confidence had waned and whose speech had been slow, opened his mouth.

Thanksgiving. He declared thanksgiving for this mighty deliverance.

From what has God delivered you?

Not there yet? Still waiting for the waters to part? What is God bringing you through?

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Take in portions of Moses’ song from Exodus 15 below, and enjoy your quiet moments with the Lord as you work through the Digging Deeper questions.

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Portions of Exodus 15 (ESV)

The Song of Moses

15 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying,

“I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand;
the earth swallowed them.
13 “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”

19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea.

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Digging Deeper: Thanking God for Deliverance

Enjoy this precious time with the Lord. Reflect on or journal about the following questions, listening for what God has to say to you.

1. From what has God delivered you? Thank Him for bringing you through!

2. It is quite possible that you have not experienced a dramatic deliverance in your life. Cherish this goodness, and spend time thanking God for all the good gifts He has given you. Consider physical, material, and spiritual blessings you have received. I believe you’ll be smiling from ear to ear as you list them all!

3. Perhaps you are in need of deliverance at this very hour. In Exodus 14:13-14, Moses said to the people:

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (NIV)

Take this verse to heart: Do not be afraid. Stand firm. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. It’ll be OK, because God’s got it. Seek God’s help to make it one more day.

4. Just as God delivered the people of Israel from the slavery of the Egyptians, so He delivered us from the bondage of death when He gave His Son, Jesus, on the cross for us. Through Jesus, we have deliverance. Through Jesus, we have freedom: We are no longer slaves to sin, death, or the devil. Ask Jesus to strengthen you in that truth.

5. I cannot leave this devotion without giving you the opportunity to worship with this song: No Longer Slaves

Notice its ties to Exodus 15. Notice its ties to your life. We are children of God. And God split the sea for us! Keep listening through the music bridge until you get to my favorite part:

“You split the sea so I could walk right through it!

My fears were drowned in perfect love.

You rescued me so I could stand and sing,

‘I am a child of God.'”

This is the second devotion in the series Oh Give Thanks. Today we focused on what God has done for us. The first devotion focused on giving thanks for people who have made a difference in our lives. You can find it here: Give Thanks and Watch It Change Your Life

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