The Scripture Reading this week is Exodus 14:10-31
The Sermon title is Take the First Step!
Early Thoughts: Imagine the scene. Moses has convinced Pharaoh to let the people go, and convinced the people to follow him. They are hastening out of captivity to freedom. Or so they thought.
But Pharaoh had second thoughts and is now chasing them with his army. The people are trapped between the water and the war chariots. Is there any hope left? What now!?!
The plan seems audacious, perhaps even ludicrous. "Stretch out your hand over the sea to divide it" God says to Moses, "that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground." Really? How many people in the crowd found this to be a reasonable option?
There is a midrashic story that I need to investigate this week about the person [a quick search suggests his name is Nahson or Nachshon] who was bold (or foolish or desperate) enough to take that first step, to be the first one to walk into the sea. I wonder how many of us would jump in like that.
One of the bits I think we miss in the story of the Red Sea is that it relies on simple acts. When I learned it in Sunday School the focus was on what God does. When we watch Charlton Heston the focus is on what God does (with Mr. Heston running a close second). But in order for God to act God seems to need others to participate in simple things. If Moses does not stretch out his hand and wave his staff does the wind part the waters? If Nachshon is not willing to take the first step will God act? does Moses? will the people follow? Simple acts of faith, acts that, in theory, could accomplish absolutely nothing, make a deep difference in the story.
I think that is where our learning might be in this story. Well, to be honest, I think there are a lot of places where we can enter the story and learn something about how God is active in the world, but one of them for me is our ability (or willingness) to take those simple first steps.
I note that there is a lot of fear in this story. And while Moses tells them not to be afraid, I am pretty sure they were still somewhat terrified. Caught between sea and chariots how else would one feel? The people move forward in their fear. Possibly despite their fear, possibly driven to desperation by their fear. But they move on regardless. How many times do we not take the first step because of our fear? What would it take for us to jump into the water?
And the simplicity of the actions. Stretch out your hand. Step out into the water (or mud). I suspect the people wanted bolts of lightning to strike down Pharaoh, or some other grand cataclysm. But the miracle is set out by simple little acts. How often do we look for the big thing that we need to do (or needs to be done) and miss the simple little things that start the ball rolling?
Many of us know that feeling of being trapped between sea and chariots (though the axiom we most often use is between a rock and a hard place). Many of us know the feeling of being overwhelmed by bad options. Many of us know the feeling of being held captive, enslaved by something that refuses to let us go. But the story reminds us that we are not alone. The story reminds us that liberation is possible. The story reminds us that the impassable obstacle can in fact be blown away. We might have to slog through the mud for a bit but liberation and freedom are possible.
We just might need to take the first simple step along the way in order for it to happen.
--Gord
No comments:
Post a Comment