The Birth Of Praise And Worship (Exodus 15:1-21) Series

Let's start today by rereading part of last week's story, at Exodus 14:15. At this point in the story, the Israelites are seemingly doomed. They're trapped between the Sea of Reeds, and the Egyptians. And Moses himself apparently cries out to God, asking God to do something:

(15) and Yahweh said to Moses,

Why are you crying out to me?

Speak to the sons of Israel, that they may set out,

while you, lift up your staff,

and stretch out your hand upon the sea,

and divide it,

that the sons of Israel may go in the midst of the sea on dry ground,

(17) while I, LOOK! I [am] strengthening the resolve of the Egyptians,

and/that they will come after them,

and/that I will be glorified against Pharaoh and against his strength-- against his chariots and against his horsemen,

(18) that the Egyptians shall know that I [am] Yahweh,

when I glorify myself against Pharaoh-- against his chariots and against his horsemen,"

(19) and the messenger/angel of the God/Elohim set out-- the one walking before the camp of Israel--,

and he walked behind them,

and the pillar of the cloud set out from before them,

and it stood behind them,

(20) and it went between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel,

and it was a dark cloud,

and it gave light to the night,

and no one drew near all night,

(21) and Moses stretched out his hand upon the sea,

and Yahweh caused the sea to walk with a strong east wind all night,

and He made the sea into dry land,

and the waters cleaved/split,

(22) and the sons of Israel went in the midst of the sea on dry land,

while the waters [were] for them a wall on their right hand and on their left hand,

(23) and the Egyptians pursued,

and they came after them-- all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen-- to the midst of the sea,

(24) and then, during the last night watch before morning, Yahweh looked down to the camp of the Egyptians in the pillar of pillar and cloud,

and He confused the camp of the Egyptians,

(25) and He removed/took off the wheels of his chariots,

and he caused them to move with difficulty,

and the Egyptians said,

"Let us flee from before Israel,

because Yahweh [is] fighting for them against the Egyptians,"

(26) and Yahweh said to Moses,

"Stretch out your hand upon the sea,

that the waters may return upon the Egyptians-- upon his chariots and upon his horsemen,"

(27) and Moses stretched out his hand upon the sea,

and the waters returned at the daybreak of morning to its normal depth,

while the Egyptians [were] fleeing to meet it,

and Yahweh shook off/swept away the Egyptians in the midst of the sea,

(28) and the waters returned,

and they covered the chariots and the horsemen-- all the strength of Pharaoh coming after them-- in the sea.

There wasn't left over among them even one,

(29) while the sons of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea,

while the waters [were] for them a wall on the right hand and on the left hand,

(30) and Yahweh saved on that day Israel from the hand of the Egyptians,

and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the edge of the sea,

(31) and Israel saw the great hand

that Yahweh had done against the Egyptians,

and the people feared/revered Yahweh,

and they trusted/"believed" in Yahweh and in Moses his servant.

When the Israelites see the dead bodies floating on the sea, something clicked for them spiritually. In that moment, when they "see" the bodies, they also "see" God's great hand. They have eyes to see the truth about God, and this leads them to revere Yahweh, to trust him, and to trust Moses his servant.

And when do this, in some ways, it's like they are making themselves God's people. God has already claimed them, and saved them. God has ridiculously good to them. And here, they respond to that love, with reverence, and faith.

At the same time, something else happens. Moses, and the Israelites, sing a song to God. I assume that this song is something God put in their mouths. God knows that when He saves people, that a simple thank you is not enough. People will find themselves wanting to sing. Words by themselves, aren't nearly enough. You have to put it to a tune (Psalm 40:3).

Now, you maybe know lots of worship songs. You could maybe work with what you have. But if God gives you a new song, you will sing that song a little different. A little louder, with a little more enthusiasm, a little more from the heart.