Between the Miracle and the Red Sea: Trusting God in the In-Between

 

“Between the Miracle and the Red Sea: Trusting God in the In-Between”

Introduction:

Have you ever found yourself standing in the “in-between”? You’ve seen God move. You’ve tasted His goodness. You know His power. And yet—here you are—facing a new challenge, and suddenly your faith feels weak. Why is that?

This was exactly where the children of Israel found themselves—after the miracle of deliverance from Egypt, before the parting of the Red Sea. One would expect rejoicing and unwavering faith, but instead we hear fear, doubt, and even accusations against Moses and God.

Let’s look at their story and reflect on ours. Why do we, too, so often falter between the miracle and the next challenge?

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1. God's Past Faithfulness Is Not Always Our Present Focus

“And they said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?’” — Exodus 14:11

After all they had seen—the plagues, the Passover, the release from slavery—they panicked at the sight of Pharaoh’s army. Why? Because their eyes were on the problem, not on the Provider.

We’re no different. When life closes in, our minds often default to fear rather than remembering how God has already carried us.

“Forget not all His benefits.” — Psalm 103:2

Spiritual forgetfulness breeds fear. That’s why Scripture calls us to remember—to keep God’s faithfulness in clear view.

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2. We Like Deliverance but Struggle with Dependence

God delivered Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand. But now, at the Red Sea, He was inviting them to trust Him again. And that’s hard. Why? Because we don’t like to feel helpless.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

Stillness is hard when you're being chased. Trust is difficult when you don’t see the way forward. But it’s in those very moments that God shows His power best.

“We live by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

Dependence on God is not a one-time act at conversion—it’s a daily lifestyle of trust.

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3. Our Fear Is Loud, but God's Voice Is Louder

God didn’t rebuke their fear with anger—He responded with a way forward.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.’” — Exodus 14:15

God doesn’t leave us paralyzed in fear. He calls us to move in faith. Even when the sea hasn’t yet parted, His command is clear: Go forward.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” — Psalm 56:3

Fear will knock. But faith answers. And faith is rooted not in ourselves, but in who God is.

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4. God Uses the In-Between to Grow Our Faith

Sometimes God places us after the miracle but before the next one so that our faith will deepen. The Red Sea moment wasn’t just about escape—it was about revelation.

“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.” — Exodus 14:31

Faith doesn’t grow in safety—it grows when we’re pressed to trust what we cannot see. And when we do, we know God more deeply.

“The testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:3

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Conclusion:

So, why do we find ourselves like the Hebrews—faltering in faith despite God’s clear track record? Because we’re human. But God is gracious. He meets us in the in-between. He parts seas. He strengthens our trust. And He patiently teaches us to walk by faith.

Let us commit to being people who remember, depend, listen, and grow—especially when we’re standing between the miracle and the Red Sea.

“Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.’” — John 14:1

Amen.

The Firstborn, the Cross, and the Call to Remember

 

"The Firstborn, the Cross, and the Call to Remember"

Text: Exodus 13:1–16

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Introduction

In Exodus 13:1–16, God gives Moses a powerful command: “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” This comes right after the final plague in Egypt—the death of all Egyptian firstborns—and the miraculous sparing of Israelite homes marked by the blood of the lamb.

Why this command? Why did God require that all firstborn be consecrated to Him? And what does that ancient command have to do with us today? Let’s dig into this passage to uncover a timeless truth about grace, ownership, and redemption.

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A Call to Remember God's Grace

The consecration of the firstborn was meant to be a living memorial. It reminded each generation that God spared their lives—not because of their goodness, but because of His grace. Every time a firstborn was presented or redeemed, it was a moment of remembering that the Israelites were once slaves, but God delivered them with a mighty hand.

Verse 14 says, “When in the future your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him...”

This was a teaching moment, a family discipleship tool. Every household would pass on the story of salvation—how blood on the doorpost saved their lives. In the same way today, we are called to remember and teach our children about God’s grace and deliverance. Whether through communion, testimony, or daily life, we must not forget what God has done.

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The Principle: Everything Belongs to God

God says, “It is Mine.” He doesn't say, "Offer it if you feel like it," or "Set aside what you don’t need." No—He declares ownership. This is not just about firstborns, but a greater principle: everything we have belongs to God.

The firstborn represented the strength and future of a family. To offer it to God was to say, “I trust You more than my own resources.” It was a form of surrender, a way of acknowledging, “You gave this to me, and I give it back to You.”

Today, we may not bring lambs or sons to the altar, but we are called to give our first and best to God—our time, our talents, our treasure. Not because He needs them, but because they already belong to Him.

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Jesus, the Firstborn Redeemer

This passage also points forward to Jesus Christ, the firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15), who was not spared but given—so that we could be redeemed. In Exodus, firstborns were saved by the blood of a lamb. At the cross, we are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God.

As Exodus 13:15 reminds us, the firstborn had to be redeemed—either by sacrifice or by death. Jesus took the place of every firstborn that should have died under judgment. He is our substitute. He redeems us with His own life.

Redemption has a cost. For Israel, it was a lamb. For us, it was the Son of God. That truth should stir our hearts toward worship and obedience.

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Living as the Redeemed

So what does this mean today?

• We must remember God’s grace—not just mentally, but actively, through worship, obedience, and teaching the next generation.

• We must surrender everything to God—our lives, our dreams, and our “firsts,” because He owns it all.

• We must live as redeemed people, not as slaves to fear or sin, but as those who have been bought with a price.

Let Exodus 13 remind us: God delivered us, God owns us, and God redeemed us. Let us live with gratitude, with purpose, and with trust in the Lamb who was slain.

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Let us pray:

Lord, thank You for redeeming us with the blood of Your Son. Help us to live lives that are consecrated to You, offering You our first and our best. May we never forget the cost of our salvation, and may our lives tell the story of Your grace for generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More: EXODUS Sabbath School Lesson 6 - Through the Red Sea

Tell the Children: Passing Down the Story of Salvation

 

Tell the Children: Passing Down the Story of Salvation

Text: Exodus 12:24–28

In Exodus 12:24–28, we find God giving His people a crucial command—not just to keep the Passover as a memorial, but to teach it. This was not a private ceremony to be kept in silence or secrecy. It was a divine appointment for storytelling, for legacy, for instruction. It was about remembrance—but even more than that—it was about transmission.

Let’s read the passage:

“Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.” (Ex. 12:24–28, NIV)

Parents Are the First Teachers of Faith

Notice who God places at the center of the instruction process: the parents. “When your children ask you…” This wasn’t the job of a Levite or priest or professional teacher—it was the responsibility of every mother and father. In Hebrew culture, education began at home. And especially in matters of faith, the home was the classroom and the parents were the teachers.

This principle remains true today. Parents, you are not just raising children—you are raising disciples. Your table is an altar, and your stories are sermons. Your children learn most not from your lectures, but from your lived-out faith, your daily trust in God, and your retelling of His faithfulness.

The Importance of Handing Down History

God commanded the Israelites to remember, to rehearse, and to retell the story of their deliverance from Egypt. This was not about nostalgia. This was about identity. To forget the story would be to forget who they were and whose they were.

History is not dead when it is told with living faith. It becomes a powerful bridge between generations. That’s why Passover was celebrated year after year—it engraved the memory of God's mighty salvation into the hearts of His people.

Christians today must also value history—biblical history, Church history, and personal testimony. We are not the first generation to walk with God, and we won’t be the last. The younger ones need to know the God who parted the sea, who fed the prophets, who raised the dead—and who saved you.

Pass Down Your Own Story of Salvation and Miracles

It's not enough to teach theology. We must also teach testimony.

What has God done for you? How has He delivered you, provided for you, healed you, or redeemed you from sin? These are the stories that make the truth personal and powerful.

When your children ask about your faith, don’t just tell them what the Bible says—tell them how you’ve lived it. Don’t let them grow up thinking miracles are only ancient stories. Let them know how God answered your prayers, rescued you from despair, or changed your life.

Your testimony is a flame that can ignite faith in others—especially in the next generation.

Bow and Obey

Verse 27 says, “Then the people bowed down and worshiped.” When God’s people understood the weight of this command—to remember and to teach—they worshiped. True worship follows true understanding. And verse 28 ends with this: “The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded.”

That’s the goal. Not just to hear, not just to remember, but to act. Passover wasn’t preserved because it was a beautiful ceremony; it was preserved because faithful people obeyed and passed it on.

So today, let’s recommit ourselves—not only to living the faith—but to telling it. Tell your children. Tell your grandchildren. Tell your church. Tell your neighbors. Tell the story—of the Lamb, of the blood, of the deliverance, of your Savior. And watch as that testimony shapes the next generation. Amen.

More: EXODUS Sabbath School Lesson 5 - Passover

Passover: Marked by the Blood, God's Instructions for Deliverance

 

"Marked by the Blood: God's Instructions for Deliverance"

Text: Exodus 12:1–20, 13–14

Imagine standing at the edge of freedom after generations of slavery. The air is tense. The night is thick with anticipation—and fear. Then, the voice of the Lord speaks—not with chaos, but with clarity. That’s what we see in Exodus 12. Before Israel leaves Egypt, God doesn’t just send them out—He gives them instructions. Detailed, specific, spiritual instructions. Not about what to pack, or how to escape. But about how to remember.

Let’s explore what God said, why it mattered, and what it all points to.

God’s Instructions Before the Exodus (Exodus 12:1–20)

God gives Moses and Aaron a precise plan—not for escape logistics, but for a sacred meal: the Passover. He tells them:

• Take a lamb, one per household, without blemish (v. 3–5).

• Kill it at twilight on the 14th day of the month (v. 6).

• Apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes (v. 7).

• Roast it whole—no breaking of bones—and eat it in haste, with bitter herbs and unleavened bread (v. 8–11).

• No yeast is to be found in their homes for seven days (v. 15).

This wasn’t random. It was a solemn moment. God wasn’t giving instructions on how to pack their bags or what road to take. Why? Because deliverance wouldn’t come by good organization. It would come by obedience to His Word and faith in the blood.

Why Passover Instructions—Not Packing Instructions?

It might seem strange: God didn’t tell them how to load their wagons or how to avoid Egyptian patrols. Instead, He told them how to mark their homes with lamb’s blood.

Why?

Because the Exodus was God’s act, not theirs. They weren't escaping Egypt. God was delivering them. Their role was to trust and obey. The blood on the door was their declaration: “We trust the Lord to spare us.”

This highlights the difference between human striving and divine salvation. You can pack all you want, but without the blood, you're not safe.

The Meaning of Passover (Exodus 12:13–14)

God says in verse 13:
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you.”

The word Passover comes from the Hebrew word pesach, meaning “to pass over” or “to spare.” It refers to the Lord passing over the homes marked by the lamb’s blood, sparing them from the judgment that struck Egypt’s firstborn.

Verse 14 adds:
“This day shall be for you a memorial day…throughout your generations, as a statute forever.”

God wasn’t just saving them that night—He was creating a pattern and a story for all time.

What Does It All Symbolize?

Passover foreshadows the ultimate Lamb—Jesus Christ.

• Just as the lamb had to be perfect, Jesus was sinless.

• Just as the lamb’s blood had to be applied, His blood must cover us (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7).

• Just as death passed over the homes marked by blood, so eternal judgment passes over those in Christ.

This wasn’t just about leaving Egypt. It was about God’s eternal plan of salvation through substitution and grace.

Why We Must Tell the Next Generation

God repeatedly told Israel to remember and to tell their children (Ex. 12:24–27). Why?

Because memory builds identity, and stories shape the soul. Children who grow up hearing about what God has done are more likely to trust what God can still do.

If we don’t tell these stories, culture will fill the silence with lesser ones. But when we tell them, we plant seeds of faith that can grow into lifelong obedience.

We Must Remember

The night of the Exodus was not about strategy—it was about salvation. Not about rushing out—but about trusting in. Not about packing fast—but about faith marked by blood.

So let us remember:

• The blood still speaks.

• The Lamb still saves.

• And the story still must be told.

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”
May we be found under that blood—and may we make sure the next generation knows what it means. Amen.

More: EXODUS Sabbath School Lesson 5 - Passover