Daily Devotions

The word Exodus was adopted into English (via Latin) from the Greek word Exodos, which literally means “the road out.” Exodos was formed by combining the prefix ex-, meaning “out of,” and hodos, meaning “road” or “way.”

There are many angles in which we could delve into the book of Exodus, from the escape from Egypt, the Passover, the introduction of the Ten Commandments to name but a few. But I want to concentrate on one verse Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

This verse actually came from a song sung by Moses and the children of Israel. The Israelites had seen a miracle and been rescued from Pharaoh for the last time. And what they do; sing a song of praise!

We may well ask, “How often are we rescued by God?”

There is no doubt that there are more times than we realise. Things happen to us and no matter how careful we are, no matter how alert we try to be, no matter what preparations we might make, there is always the unexpected that can happen. 

And in the same breath we may also ask, “how often does God protect us and keep us safe?” Maybe when we look back on our live's events we realise the times that God stepped in. Or maybe we never even know about the disaster we came to so close too.

Much of Exodus, in spite of God’s redemptive action for the Children of Israel, records the times that they complained. 

In 1991, Robert Hughes, an art critic, wrote a book called The Culture of Complaint. His thesis is that we live in a culture in which we perceive ourselves as being entitled to having all our wants and desires fulfilled. When that doesn't happen, we become "victims," we whine and complain and grumble. 

Moses, as chief cheerleader was constantly in the role of centring  the people’s expectations.  Jonathan Sacks , The former chief rabbi suggests that “Jews read the books of Moses not just as history but as divine command. The question to which they are an answer is not, 'What happened?' but rather, 'How then shall I live?' And it's only with the exodus that the life of the commands really begins.”

Surely our response to the Lord’s redemptive initiative is join in the singing of, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!” 

Almighty God and Father, you have saved your people throughout the ages, and protected them in ways which can never be fully understood. Give us the courage to face issues of good and evil within our world with the strength and courage only You can give, and so contribute to Your work for love and peace within the world: AMEN