Introduction
Through the events of Exodus God is making himself known as the Covenant God, Yahweh. This revelation occurs in two ways:
· It describes God’s character.
· It tells us what it means to be in covenant relationship with Yahweh.
You may remember that we have described knowing God as a process of two aspects, namely, knowing facts about him and then a fleshing out of those facts in experience.
In chapter 15 we see Moses expressing what has been learned by the Israelites in this regard thus far. The chapter acts as a kind of summary of what precedes it. But that is not all.
The Song of Moses
This song is iften refered to as the Song of Moses but it is not his alone. It belongs to all the Israelites, and to us too. It is also known as teh Song of the Sea. As we read the song there is a distinct change in it. There is a change of tense at verse 13. Verses 1-12 talk about what God has done in the past, and then verses 13-18 look to the future with God. The song describes what God has done in the past and what can be expected of him in the future. Our faith in Christ for the future, our Christian hope in other words, is based upon our observance of God in the past. Specifically we see that he makes promises and then keeps them.
Whilst the Israelites have every reason to be hopeful of reaching their Promised Land there are still immense obstacles to be faced from other nations, but there is now a greater realisation about their prospects.
Faith Applied
So the new principle that this chapter introduces is 'faith applied'. There are two aspects to this application of faith. One is with words, showing that you understand the significance of Scripture. The other is putting your faith into action in real situations rather than theoretical ones.
As New Testament people, have you ever wondered why we study Old Testament stories? In 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 and verse 11, Paul says these stories from Exodusare examples to us (v6) and warnings (v11) to us. You will notice that he talks of the 'fulfilment of the ages' having come on the Christian Church. In other words these things happened to Israel for the understanding of the Church. We ignore the Old Testament at our peril and to our impoverishment.
Song of Affirmation
It is interesting that we get a song here rather than plain prose. Let's examine it. This song is a song of celebration. When we are happy we sing. A song is easier to pass on to others and onto following generations. It is a song of affirmation, affirming their faith in God (14:31). This is the main thrust of the song. It is an expression of joy and as with a football crowd can express triumph and confidence. Furthermore, the song is descriptive of God’s character.
David Jackman, Director of the Cornhill Training Course in London splits up the song like this:
1. verses 1-5: a celebration of his matchless power
2. verses 6-12: a celebration of his mighty deeds
3. verses 13-18: a celebration of his faithfulness
In verses 1-5 this God whose name is Yahweh is described as a mighty warrior, and Moses says, "I have experienced the objective truth about this God in Scripture in my life." in verse 2 this God is 'my' God. Note the order and chiastic structure in this verse: strength, song and salvation. His strength is not against us, but in fact it’s for our salvation, therefore we can sing in celebration.
Verses 6-10 concentrate on God’s power and authority over Creation and nature. Nature is not separate from God and he can do whatever he likes with it. There should be no separation of God from his creation as we in the scientific age are a little prone to do sometimes.
Verse 13-18 look ahead to the coming confrontation with the Canaanite nations and show that the Israelites have learned to have confidence in God from what they have heard and seen so far.
The middle verse (11) is very important. It’s the whole point of the song and of the book. God has been teaching the Egyptians with their many idols this very lesson. He is teaching us this lesson too. It is as description of God’s character and therefore an indication of how we can expect him to behave. Literally the verse says God is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises and a worker of wonders. God is utterly holy, singularly praiseworthy and to be feared, and he is the sovereign creator actively involved in his creation.
Marah (verses 22-26)
Some call the song of Moses the 'Song of the Sea' because judgement and deliverance through the water of the Red Sea have been its main subject matter as it describes the Israelites affirmation of faith in God.
The puzzle for us is to ascertain the link to this next story at Marah and indeed to the next bit of the story at Elim in verse 27. Of course it shouldn't take too long to realise that it is water. We get a story about sea, then about bitter water, then about abundant water.
The Application of Faith
If the preceding song is an expression of joy and satisfaction, then the emotion that has replaced it here is grumbling. In verse 25 God says this is a test for them. If the song was an affirmation of faith, then this incident at Marah is about the application of faith. 'You’ve witnessed, learned and accepted the lesson. Now, can you apply it to the next problem in your life?' asks God by confronting them with this situation. They saw what God did with a whole sea, so so their expectation about him to resolve the bitter water problem should provoke faith, prayer and trust. Grumbling and anger are definitely not the answer.
The Israelites have found spoiled water that must have reminded them of the polluted Nile in the Egyptian plagues. God resolves their problem with the miracle of the piece of wood that sweetens the water, and then he teaches them through rebuke in verse 26. Do you notice the repetition of the lesson in the verse? Listen and then do, restated as pay attentin and keep his laws.
The lesson is clear. Faith is not just academic. It must be worked out in practice. Listen carefully then do. Pay attention then keep.
The Israelites failed to see their new situation as a test and so failed the test. I wonder how often we read the Bible, hear a sermon, leave a home group study, and then walk out to disobey God’s lesson almost immediately. God underlines the Israelites shame by bringing them to Elim and providing in abundance. Faithful patience and obedience would have been rewarded. IT was of interest to a member of our house group who said that the lesson of Marah was also to show us how vene in bad, bitter situations, God brings a sweetness into it for the Christian.
The Bible.org commentator makes the point that we accept God more easily in the big things he does than in the little things. He can miraculously fight the Egyptians through plague and sea, but providing clean water – well, that takes a whole lot more faith! I concur, what dreadful thinking this is. Remember Peter in the Upper Room, outraged that Jesus, who has fed the 5,000 and the 4,000 should wash his feet. Wash all of me! he protests. It's the same attitude isn’t it?
God has done the big work in your life. He has saved us from the coming judgement by hiding us in Christ. It is unthinkable he will let us down over the difficult circumstance in which we find ourselves.
Can I ask if God is allowing you to undergo a test? Are you applying what you know with your head to your life?