Waymaker

Exodus 14:21-23

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 

This excerpt is a part of the Exodus story when the Israelites are fleeing Egypt.  The Egyptians are in close pursuit.  There’s a lot more to the story, but these few verses point to a threshold moment - the Israelites are on the verge of leaving their old life of bondage and slavery behind and stepping forth into the great unknown.  They had to take a leap of faith, so to speak, trusting that the Lord would indeed provide safe passage. 

The next step was the first step in a long journey over the next 40 years.  For 40 years the Israelites would wander in the wilderness.   When hardship would befall them, they would complain and long for the “good old days.”  When they were starving, they would fantasize about the “fleshpots of Egypt” that they had left behind.  At least, they thought, they wouldn’t be starving as slaves in Egypt.  Time and time again, they would complain to Moses about the conditions of the wilderness, and time and time again, God would provide.

During the liturgical season of Lent, we are invited into a spiritual time of wandering.  It is a time to focus on what matters most in our relationship to God, to clear away the clutter and the distractions.  Covid-19 has caused us to experience a “year of Lent” - and it is continuing.  We wander in the wilderness not knowing what the future holds.  Like the Israelites, we do our share of complaining and we long for the “good old days.”  There is the possibility, however, that our future will continue to be shaped by Covid-19 realities and its lasting effects.  We may need to continue to adapt and grow and change in ways that we had not anticipated as a “life in the wilderness” or “living in a pandemic world” becomes life as we know it.  I don’t know what the future holds, but through all the changes and adaptations, I trust God to already be there.  I trust God is leading the way.  I trust that God is MAKING a way - just as God has always done.

Prayer: Life-giving God, you continually make a way when it seems that there is no way.  You opened up the sea so that the Israelites might walk on dry land into freedom.  Help us to see your continued work in our lives and in our world to make a way for us to continue to live as your people, following the ways of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose holy name we pray.  Amen.