Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsSample

A time to sing

This is a carefully constructed passage; take some time to see how it ‘hangs together’. 14:30–31 match 15:19. The former deal with divine salvation and Egypt’s destruction; the latter with Egypt’s destruction and Israel’s salvation. They thus form a bracket round Moses’ song. 

The song begins with victory past (15:1–5) and ends with victories to come (vv. 14–18). In between are two passages focusing on the Lord’s hand (see vv. 6, 12). In verses 6–10 we see the Lord’s hand in the conquest of human foes; in verses 11–12 of supernatural foes, with the supremacy of the Lord ‘among the gods’. The bracketing verses, then, affirm the accomplished reality of our salvation – the song asserts that the victorious Lord who has acted in the past can be trusted for the future. The middle ‘hand’ section stands for his ability and power to take action and to intervene. 

In verse 1 ‘Then’ is the adverb of time: it’s that precise moment. Note it! The moment of accomplished salvation was the moment of song. This is the way singing is used throughout the Bible: it is our joyful response to a salvation to which we have contributed nothing. God has so completely undertaken the work of salvation, nothing is left for us but to rejoice in it! (See Judg. 5:1; Ps. 95; 96; 98; Is. 12; 27:1–2; 30:29–32; Rev. 5:9–14.) 

When the Bible speaks of other ‘gods’ (v. 11, cf. 1 Cor. 8:5) it is not affirming their existence but recognising the fact that the nations have objects of worship other than Yahweh – and often, as here, that is a matter of comparison. Yahweh is incomparably different and superior to them (Ps. 96:5; Is. 40:18– 20; 44:9–20). This point is important, for we become like the god we worship (Ps. 115:8; Is. 40:31). Moreover God’s mighty acts are our persuasive testimony to the world. What he has done convinces them. So in verse 14 the people ‘hear’ and fear (cf. Josh. 2:9–11). Are we often fearful to offer testimony in case we will be asked questions we can’t answer? We must learn to rely on God’s truth (telling what he has done) to bring its own conviction.

Reflection

Reflect on 15:13–17. The Lord God is our Redeemer, our loving Next-of-kin, who has finished the whole work of salvation. Pray that he will keep you on the path, day by day, to his holy habitation.