Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

ISRAEL'S FAITH, PART 1

This entry was posted on 03-23-2009 and is filed under FAITH.

"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land: but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned" (Heb. 11:29 NIV).

Did you know that you can pass on your faith? We have been looking at Moses' faith (vs. 24-28), but now the writer switches to Israel's faith - "By faith the people passed through..." Evidently the faith of their great leader had filtered down to them. The Israelites were not always a people of faith, but here they were. In fact, this may be the "one shining moment" in the history of the Children of Israel. Their collective faith rose to the top like rich cream that has been vigorously churned. For once they were living like God wanted them to live all the time. "The just shall live by faith."

Think about the faith it took for them to pass through those towering walls of water that had stacked up like seawater skyscrapers on either side. The avenue down the middle of the Red Sea was a virtual boulevard of belief, a tunnel of trust, a corridor of commitment. Who was the first to follow Moses? Who came next? It was not long until every one of the Israelites - from the oldest to the youngest - was "walking by faith" through the Red Sea. Faith only works for a true believer. The pursuing Egyptians attempted to pass through and were swallowed up by the sea. Their pagan beliefs took them down and they never came back up. This divine judgment served to bolster the faith of Israel. "Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses" (Exo. 14:31 ESV).
The next time you come to a "Red Sea" challenge in your life, step forward in faith and pass through as on dry land.

Hymn: "Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by; trusting Him what-e'er befall, trusting Jesus - that is all" (Edgar P. Stites).