The Lord Uses Moses

Exodus 14:13-22

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.” 

¹⁵ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ¹⁷ I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. ¹⁸ The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

¹⁹ Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, ²⁰ coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, ²² and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Psalm 77:1-20

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

¹ I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands, 
and I would not be comforted. 

³ I remembered you, God, and I groaned; 
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. 
⁴ You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak. 
⁵ I thought about the former days, 
the years of long ago;
⁶ I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

⁷ “Will the Lord reject forever? 
Will he never show his favor again?
⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful? 
Has he in anger withheld his compassion? ”

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 
¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” 

¹³ Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God? 
¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles; 
you display your power among the peoples.
¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, 
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed; 
the very depths were convulsed.
¹⁷ The clouds poured down water, 
the heavens resounded with thunder; 
your arrows flashed back and forth.
¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, 
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked. 
¹⁹ Your path led through the sea, 
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like a flock 
by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalms 77