At the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, Beethoven could no longer hear the music, and when the piece ended, someone had to turn him around to face the audience so he could see the ovation. This sermon begins with people who had lost something important and still kept going, and it leads to the places where human ability runs out. The Lord tells the Israelites to turn back and camp by the sea, with Pharaoh at their backs (Exod 14). God does not always take the sea away. Sometimes he opens a way through it and teaches trust where fear blocks out everything else. Listen if you are standing before your own Red Sea and want to find out what to do when you can see no way forward.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Why did God tell the Israelites to turn back and camp by the sea, even though a shorter road led to the Promised Land? What does Exodus 14:1-4 say about this?
- How did the Israelites' reaction change when they saw the Egyptians approaching, and what does their fear show us about ourselves?
- Moses says: "Do not be afraid" and "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." How is his attitude toward fear different from the people's?
- When is it easier for you to forget God: when things are going well or when they are going badly? Why is that?
- What does it mean for you to "give God your hand" in a situation where you cannot see the way?
- What "photograph" of God's work can you take in your heart, and who will you tell about it this week?
