​ I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
​
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,
“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
    and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel[c] be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,
“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
    we would have been like Sodom
    and become like Gomorrah.”

Israel's Unbelief
30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
    and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
 
 
Meditation
God is sovereign over everything, including salvation. Christian security is deepened when we see the height of God’s mercy through the work of Jesus Christ.
 
When billionaire Robert Smith paid tens of millions to pay off loan debt for Morehouse graduates, everyone saw this as extravagantly generous. No one questioned why Smith chose Morehouse and no one called him ungracious or unloving for not paying off debt for every US  2019 graduate. The unnecessary generosity was celebrated and admired.
 
How much more, then (acknowledging the imperfect analogy), is God’s sovereign choice to show mercy and save a people for Himself, paying off the debt of sin, worthy of admiration and celebration?
 
Paul anguishes over Israel’s lack of belief wherein they forfeited access to God’s fortune, his personal pain made more potent by reminding the reader of  Israel’s privileges (1-5). Israel's lack of faith is contrasted with God's faithfulness to His promises (6-13) and His practicing mercy (14-18). Just as the prophets predicted, God held Israel accountable (19-29) and offered salvation through faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ (30-33). God is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4-5) and He chose a people with whom He desires to share His riches. Faith in God and His promises, all of which are fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus, is the only way to share in the riches of God's mercy. No national heritage, religious rigor, personal piety, or anything else can save us. Only God’s mercy  (16).
 
God’s sovereignty over salvation saves people who turn to Him in faith (no matter where they are from or what they’ve done!) and rejects people who presume on their piety, pedigree, or self-proclaimed moral superiority. God’s mercy is for all who believe, receiving His grace by faith, a stark contrast in comparison to people who feel their performance achieves acceptance from God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the contrast between God’s mercy for all who believe and the condemnation for others who feel they have a right to receive salvation?
 
-Where do you identify, believing your good works or performance or pedigree earn you a position on God’s team?
 
-Why does it maximize God’s glory for God to be sovereign over salvation? How does the comprehensive picture of God’s mercy move you to live more faithfully for God’s glory?
 
Key Verse
8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring… 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

​ And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons.12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

Meditation
One kindness of the King is His invitation to feast at His table. At one time, we were enemies of God (Romans 5:10). Through the work of King Jesus, believers come to His banqueting table and His banner over us is love (Song of Solomon 2:4).
 
After David united the kingdom, established the capital, and defeated his enemies the king looks to show “kindness,” or steadfast love, to the house of Jonathan (1).
 
David’s intentionality to show “kindness” (1, 3, 7) is fulfillment of 1 Samuel 2:2, 7-9 where Hannah celebrates the Lord’s anointed “lifting the needy…to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.. . . (to) guard the feet of his faithful ones.”  
 
Kindness is the “Hesed” of God, His character and covenant love (Exodus 34:4-6). Mephibosheth was injured in his feet (2 Samuel 4:4, 10) but David honored Jonathan’s and elevated lame Mephibosheth. Kindness is the fullness of God’s heart welcoming the forgotten and marginalized to the king’s table.
 
David’s kindness was centered on his table (7, 10, 11, 13), just as the True Shepherd sets a table for His beloved. God’s kindness, or steadfast love, follows us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23). The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases- Great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)!
 
Jesus is David’s greater son whose kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). The grace God through the work of Jesus offers a seat at God's banqueting table with to everyone who believes. The steadfast love of Jesus is God's kindness that lifts the needy and empowers the lame to walk in love as He loved us.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in David’s determination to show God’s kindness to the house of Jonathan?
 
-Take a moment to list ways God has shown His kindness to you, His steadfast love, through His grace in Jesus. Be specific, and allow the list to lead you to praise.
 
-How does the kindness of our King empower you to share and show His kindness to a world of His enemies who are lame? To whom do you need to show this kindness to today?
 
Key Verse
13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

​O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
    because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
    like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
 
5 My wounds stink and fester
    because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
    all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
    and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
    I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
 
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
    and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
    and my nearest kin stand far off.
 
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
    those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
    and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
    like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
    who boast against me when my foot slips!”
 
17 For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
    I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good
    accuse me because I follow after good.
 
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation!
 
 
Meditation
The steadfast love of our Fatherly sovereignly stewards difficulties for the discipline of His children. A heart fully trusting the Lord will delight in His discipline.
 
David’s enemies used his difficulties as “fake news” to remove him from power (12, 16, 19), but David attributes the Lord for his wounds (1-8, 17). We live in a fallen world, so not all difficulties are discipline. But God’s grace uses difficulties to discipline His children (Deuteronomy 8:5-6).  “The Lord disciplines those He loves” (Hebrews 12:6) and David knew the intimate love of God (21-22). 
 
This penitential psalm acknowledges the discipline of the Lord (1-2); understanding the reason for the discipline is sin (3-4). The burden belongs to God alone (5-8) as the lonely consequences belong to David (9-14). The invitation of Divine discipline is to hope in the Lord and His love (15-22), trusting Him for restoration.
 
God disciplines in rebuke for sin (Psalm 39:11) that life may be birthed in the believer (Proverbs 10:17). The Lord’s discipline is not punitive- Christ took the penalty for our sin on the cross. The discipline of the Lord is restorative, leading to a harvest of righteousness and peace (Hebrews 12:10-11). The discipline of the Lord comes from His love (Revelation 3:19) and believers should not despise the Lord for His discipline (Job 5:17-18).
 
Jesus is the fulness of this Psalm: afflicted to death (10), abandoned by friends (11), accused falsely by enemies (12) and unable to defend himself (14); so believers can know the discipline of the Lord is delight, a doorway for restoration.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading?
 
-Do you delight in the discipline of the Lord? Why or why not, and what does this reveal about your heart?
 
-Where do you need to embrace certain difficulties as the Lord’s discipline, His steadfast love shaping your soul for more faithful reflection of Him? What is He teaching you? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.

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.
3 The Lord is a man of war;
    the Lord is his name.
4 “Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
    and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The floods covered them;
    they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
    your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
    you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
    the floods stood up in a heap;
    the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
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.
14 The peoples have heard; they tremble;
    pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed;
    trembling seizes the leaders of Moab;
    all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
16 Terror and dread fall upon them;
    because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone,
till your people, O Lord, pass by,
    till the people pass by whom you have purchased.
17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,
    the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,
    the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.”
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. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”
​
Bitter Water Made Sweet22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

Meditation
True character is exposed when life is out of control and the pressure heats up. The crisis at the Red Sea and the first steps into the wilderness reveal God’s character and the need humanity has for a Savior, salvation accomplished through the characteristic of God’s steadfast love.
 
Moses’ song celebrates God’s salvation through the revelation of His character. The Lord “triumphs gloriously” over the crisis on the coast of the Sea. “The Lord is a warrior” (3) who fights for His people, “glorious in power” (6), “leading in steadfast love” (13), and forever will rule over both His enemies and the elements of creation (18). There is no one like the Lord, no god like our God, who is majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, and working wonders!
 
The contrast of character between humanity and God highlights the grace and mercy of the Lord. The song of salvation quickly turned to voices of frustration when victory transitioned into wilderness wandering. “The people grumbled against Moses saying, “what shall we drink?” Crisis reveals human need for a savior. We sin by grumbling against Him, but God is a “Healer” for all who hope in His work (26).
 
God uses crisis to reveal Himself to us. During the ultimate crisis, Jesus did not compromise His character as He embraced the Father’s providence, dying in our place so grumblers like me can receive God’s grace and behold our Father’s face. Crisis reveals God’s unchanging character (Malachi 3:6) and His steadfast love invites us to repent and return to His embrace.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the character of God contrasted with the character of Israel?
 
-Where do you identify with Israel, grumbling against God in seasons of wilderness wandering?
 
-How does the work of Jesus reveal God’s character, giving grace to you to be honest with your grumbling and return to His grace? Where, specifically, do you need to embrace this loving invitation?
 
Key Verse
11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. 3 I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
​
5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.

9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11 It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper.13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”

The Interpretation of the Vision15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.21 And the goat[d] is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his[e]nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”
27 And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.

Meditation
Through the finished work of Jesus Christ, Christians receive an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken, “in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:27). God will one day “shake” empires built by human hands. Only  Christ’s kingdom will remain.
 
Daniel’s vision is of “the appointed time of the end” (19) and includes a one horned goat, two-horned ram, four horns, and a tiny horn that tramples the host of heaven. The angel Gabriel interprets the vision (16) with empires of the ages: Medo-Persian, Greek, the four generals who inherited Alexander the Great’s empire, and the little horn who was a Seleucid king named Antiochus IV came to power in 175 BC (8:9, 23). Powerful rulers battle for more power using cunning deceit, but the most powerful ruler will be “broken- not by human hands” (25).
 
Daniel was terrified (27). Christians must find comfort knowing there is a “Prince of princes” (25). Daniel lost hope through ambiguity. Christians have hope through clarity- Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace whose kingdom is the eternal rock “not cut by human hands” (Daniel 2:34).
 
After Daniels’ vision, God’s people will return from exile to re-build the temple that was later destroyed (AD 70). Jesus promises a greater and eternal temple “not made by human hands” (Mark 14:55-58).  Jesus is king of kings and the fullness of God’s eternal promises.
 
The mystery of Daniel’s apocalyptic visions find clarity in Jesus Christ. Empires of this world will be shaken out of existence. The kingdom of King Jesus will remain- forever.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do discussions of the end of earthly time make you feel like Daniel, sick for some days and sometimes appalled (27)?
 
-Does it comfort you to know God is sovereign and working all things according to His plan? Why or why not? Does it change how you live daily life?
 
-Jesus is the fullness of power and rules over every authority of the world. Jesus is the temple not made with hands and believers are a part of His temple, the body of Christ. How can you celebrate the security you have in Christ and the dignity you receive in being a part of His body?
 
Key Verse
25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 

​Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night[a] without one coming near the other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

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Meditation
God’s sovereign grace rescues His people to give ground to display His glory.
 
God’s goal of glory is stated three times in today's reading (4, 17, 18). Warfare followed Israel into the wilderness, but they were commanded to “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord” (13). The Lord fights for His people to gain glory for Himself (14).
 
Israel walked forward into the sea “on dry ground” (16, 22). “Dry ground” is what God made during creation when He separated the waters (Genesis 1:9-10). “Dry Ground” is what God provided Noah after the flood of judgment, a place for new creation (Genesis 7-9). “Dry Ground” is what God provided for His people to pass into the promise land (Joshua 3). God gives dry ground for His people to gain glory for Himself in creation, redemption, and re-creation.
 
As God rescued Israel from Egypt (4, 13, 14, 30), Jesus Christ provides ultimate rescue, “delivering us from deadly peril… on Him we set our hope that He will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:10).  Believers are rescued on the ground of grace alone, setting our hope on the ground of eternal inheritance in the new earth (1 Peter 1:3-9), ground that will be covered in God’s glory as the water covers the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
 
God’s rescue in Christ gives His people dry ground to steward for His glory. Christians walk forward on the ground of God's grace in relationships, homes, neighborhoods, places of work, and spheres of influence. Responding to God’s rescue, gain glory for God on the ground He has given you!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially the salvation God gives to Israel and the emphasized motives of God to get glory for Himself?
 
-Where are you “afraid to walk forward” on the ground God has given you, trusting in His sovereignty to steward the ground for His glory?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus offer security for you to stand on the ground of God’s grace to courageously live for God’s glory in your relationships, work place, school, family, friendships, how you use your money…? Be specific in naming some ground in your life to walk forward in faith for God’s glory.
 
Key Verse
22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.