“Have I ever told you how much I LOVE reading scripture?” This question was how I started a couple text messages to friends this morning because I was excited about what I read today. The Bible has become my favorite book of all time and I read it every day. I enjoy following the story of God’s creation, the crazy mistakes the people made over and over again, and how God came to their rescue every time. Even those hard to follow genealogies are fascinating!
At the beginning of the year I began a Bible-in-a-year reading plan with some friends using the YouVersion Bible app. We have done a couple plans together before, but this is the first time we made a year-long commitment like this. The plan includes a devotional, assigns several chapters to read, and an opportunity to talk it over. Those “talk it over” comments are so enlightening, especially because this group of folks has been open and transparent from day one, and we are able to learn so much from each other’s walk through life and with God.
Today we read Exodus 14-17. This part of the exodus story drops us into history just as Pharaoh is regretting his decision to let the Israelites go and he heads out to bring them back. Through Moses, the Lord parts the Red Sea and dries the ground so the Israelites can hurry across. The Egyptians follow, and the Lord causes their wheels to get caught up, slowing them down, and then again through Moses, He puts the water back and Pharaoh and all his men are drowned. When the people are hungry, the Lord provides manna and pheasants. When they are thirsty, He provides water. Throughout it all the Israelites grumbled and complained, even though the only thing they had to do was trust.
All through these chapters we see the Lord in everything. He was there with them day and night, by day as a pillar of cloud and by night a pillar of light, providing safety, protection, food, and water. He did everything with a single purpose – to show the world that He is the One True God.
Charles H. Spurgeon said, “When we read human history, we should read it to see the finger of God in it – trace through the human story the silver line of covenant working – observe how the Lord casts the horse and his rider into the sea when they come out against him or his people.”
That silver line of covenant, or the silver strand, can be seen from the very first verse all the way to the final Amen of scripture. God’s creation, Adam and Eve’s sin, His promise to Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus – every page of the Bible has a silver strand leading us to His plan for us to be His adopted children, for us to worship and love Him, and for us to be loved by Him for eternity. That silver strand is His Promise, now and forever.
So much of the history, both scriptural and otherwise, can be confusing and hard to understand. Many things we will never understand, but sometimes when we look back over history, we can see that silver strand running through our lives and the lives of others. We can see those times when God was working and we didn’t even realize it. ”Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can man understand his way?” Proverbs 20:24
Oh Lord, how often have we grumbled about our circumstance without seeing Your hand in everything? How often have we overlooked the manna from heaven and the water from the rock? Why do we quarrel with circumstances? Why do we test You? Help us to have complete trust in You, help us to seek Your voice, to hear Your instruction, and do what is right in Your sight. Help us to look for the silver strand of your Promise in each day. For You are our Lord and Healer.In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
From Suffering to Praise 