Chapter 15
Recently, my wife and I were playing cards with some friends. We always play guys vs. girls, and most of the time, the ladies wipe the floor with us. This night was no different. We typically play three hands of cards, and after the first two hands, the girls beat us. Usually, we’d call it quits since there’d be no hope for us guys, but we had some time left and figured, just for grins and giggles, we’d go for a third. Maybe we could win the last hand and claim a moral victory.
I was trying to play it up, so I grabbed my phone and queued up an old ‘80s tune—“U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer. (I knew that would make their eyes pop!) As my partner drew his cards, I said, “Okay, Steve, we got this!” and hit play on my phone. Everyone stopped and stared at me like I’d just landed from Mars as I bee-bopped in my chair to the tune, grinning. Well, I thought it was cool. My wife thought it was definitely funny to look at.
Bottom line, the guys won that hand. As we laid down the winning card, I couldn’t help but hit the tune again in victory. For some reason, the girls’ eyes rolled, and my wife turned to them and said, “At least you have the option of going home. I have to live with this! Pray for me.”
I’ve been asked several times, “What’s your favorite song?” Can you answer that question? I always find it hard. There are so many impactful tunes. Some have a great beat; some have powerful lyrics. Some are secular, while others are devout or religious. I guess my favorite depends on the mood I’m in at the moment. Music tends to connect with our emotions. It can lead us down sad roads when we’re feeling low. It can really hype us up when we’re happy. It can even feed our temptations when we’re feeling… well, naughty.
This next chapter is really interesting—it’s another first mention in the Bible: the first song recorded. Notice the timing: After God delivered His children from the world and completely destroyed the pursuing enemy. The Israelites were hopelessly defenseless. There was absolutely nothing they could do except rely on God for their deliverance. And God did it. They saw the devastation of the enemy, and it inspired this song.
Here’s a little Paul Harvey twist: This is also the last song mentioned in the Bible, in Revelation 15!
Do you think God is trying to make a point here? Consider the words of Moses in this song, and imagine yourself in the future—because these words will be true then, too. The powerful nation of Egypt may not exist like it did anymore, but the spirit behind Egypt is exactly the same. It brings to mind Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV)
The Song of Moses
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song to Jehovah, and spoke, saying, “I will sing to Jehovah, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider has he thrown into the sea. 2 Jehovah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; My father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 Jehovah is a man of war. Jehovah is his name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host has He cast into the sea. Pharaohs chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea. 5 The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Jehovah, is glorious in power, your right hand, O Jehovah, dashes the enemy to pieces.
7 In the greatness of Your excellency you overthrow them that rise up against you. You send forth your wrath; it consumes them as stubble. 8 And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil. My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’ 10 You blew with your wind and the sea covered them. They sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like you, O Jehovah, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 Thou stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. 13 You in your loving kindness has led the people that you have redeemed. You have guided them in your strength to your holy habitation. 14 The peoples have heard, they tremble. Pangs have taken hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then were the chiefs of Edom dismayed. The mighty men of Moab, trembling takes hold on them. All the inhabitants of Canaan melt away. 16 Terror and dread falls upon them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone. Until your people pass over, O Jehovah, until the people pass over that which you have purchased. 17 You will bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance. The place, O Jehovah, which you have made to dwell in; the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
18 Jehovah shall reign for ever and ever!”
19 When the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Jehovah brought back the waters of the sea on them. However, the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them, “Sing all to Jehovah, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horses and his riders has he thrown into the sea.”
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
25 And he cried to Jehovah. Jehovah showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There the Lord made for them a ruling and an ordinance, and there God put Israel to a test. 26 God said, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, and will do that which is right in his eyes, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes; I will put none of the diseases upon you, which I have put upon the Egyptians. I am Jehovah that heals you.”
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm-trees. Israel camped there by the waters.
