The Apple Of God's Eye Series

THE APPLE OF GOD’S EYE (EXODUS 14:1-31)

In a survey of four- to eight-year olds, kids share their views on love:

“Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way.”

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”

“When someone loves you, the way she says your name is different. You know that your name is safe in her mouth Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is ok.”

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents for a minute and look around.”

“Love is hugging. Love is kissing. Love is saying no.”

“When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you’re scared she won’t love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only does she still love you, she loves you even more.”

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they’ve known each other so well.”

“Love comes from people’s hearts, but God made hearts.”

http://www.pediatricservices.com/inspire/inspire33.htm

God’s declaration of love for Israel is well-chronicled. Moses exclaimed in Deuteronomy 4:37, “He loved your forefathers” and in Deuteronomy 23:5, “God loves you.” God’s version spoken by the prophets Jeremiah, Hosea and Malachi was more heartfelt and personal: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness” (Jer 31:3) , “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hos 11:1) and “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated” (Mal 1:2-3).

Israel is the “apple of His eye” (Deut 32:10). God not only loves Israel, but shields and guards her. Zechariah the prophet alleged, “For whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.” (Zech 2:8) God serves a powerful warning to the world that He is tender and jealous in His love and affection for those who belong to Him. His loyalty to His people is unquestioned, unending and unsurpassed.

The Israelites were between a rock and a hard place. The Red Sea was before them and the army of Egypt was behind them. They saw the fast approaching Egyptians, found themselves cornered and screamed at Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Ex 14:11-12)

When the Israelites were in trouble, God kept his promise to Abraham, showed His loyalty to His people and displayed His glory to all the nations. It was just another occasion for God to prove His faithfulness, sovereignty and majesty. Israel failed to understand that the Lord never leaves or forsakes His people (Heb 13:5). He will never ignore their cries, look another way or fail to help when they are in trouble.

Where is God when our backs are against the wall? What are believers to do when they are afraid? Why is trusting God better than trusting oneself and others?

The Lord Fights; You Be Still

13 Moses answered 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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Ex 14:13-14)

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man.