“Surf’s Up” (Exodus 14:19-31)

Do you remember what the one vulture said to the other vulture as they were sitting on the branch of a tree in the middle of nowhere in the desert?  Well, the one vulture looked over at the other vulture and said, “Patience my rear end . . . I want to kill something now!”

The human race is not very patient.  The human race is not very trusting either.

Pharaoh has set the Israelites free because he has had enough of the plagues that God has unleashed upon the Egyptians . . . tired of the whole mess especially when God takes away all of the first born of Egypt.  Pharaoh sets them free and the Israelites hightail it out of there as fast as they can.  Now, mind you, it is not easy to hightail it out of anywhere when the hightailing involves close to an estimated million people . . . but the people flee Egypt and captivity.

Off they go . . . slowly, but surely . . . they make their way to freedom . . . until they reach their first obstacle.  Before the people lies the Red Sea . . . a body of water between them and their freedom.  Not the best of places to get stuck especially since the Pharaoh—having had time to steam a little—decides that he changed his mind.  He either wants the Israelite slaves back or he would kill them all.  He mounts the army to chase after them and begins to think that he has them cornered . . . has their backs against the wall.  Things are not looking good for God’s people

Of course this was just the beginning of what would become a central theme to the exodus story . . . what biblical scholars like to call “lamenting”, and what we would probably call moaning, groaning, and whining.  Who wouldn’t be having second thoughts . . . the God of the Israelites had made the Egyptians angry—vengeful angry.  Now the Israelites had their backs against the wall, the Egyptian army right on their tails and they had nowhere to go.  I imagine that more than one or two Israelites were anxious as they watched the army’s dust coming towards them.  They wanted out and they wanted out right then and there . . . patience was a virtue and they sure were not too trusting of a God who would lead them right into a trap.

But everything worked out.  The Lord told Moses to spread his arms out across the sea.  Moses did as he was instructed and then the most magnificent thing happened . . . the water parted . . . the ground dried up . . . and, suddenly there was a route for the people to escape through.  The people did not hesitate to get to the other side.  Once on the other side, God instructed Moses to do the same thing over the water and the water rushed back to its original place.  The pursuing army of the Egyptians was washed away . . .wiped out.  The problem was solved and the exodus remained intact. 

Then the writer of this passage tells us: “And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”  The people “feared” the Lord . . . often that word—“feared”—translates into faith . . . the people discovered faith in the Lord.  They “trusted” the Lord.  At least for a little while they did.

Unlike my wife, I am not much of an ocean person.  Oceans are kind of boring to me . . . give me the mountains and I will be happy.  At the ocean there is not a whole lot to do but lie there, catch a few rays, and watch the tide come in and out.  Yet, there are those who find great pleasure and adventure at the ocean . . . they are patient . . . they are trusting . . . it is just a matter of time.  It is just a matter of time before these patient beach dwellers hear the cry, “Surf’s up!”  It is a call to action.

Suddenly the peaceful and passive beach dwellers begin to move.  They grab their surf boards and head for the water.  “Surf’s up” is a call to action in order to take advantage of the newly acquired waves . . . grab the surf boards and hit the waves.  It is one of those opportunities that either has to be taken or missed . . . it might not come around for a couple days, weeks, or even months. 

With the grumbling going through the people who were facing extinction or a certain return to slavery, when Moses lifted his arms and the sea split in two . . . the surf was up.  It was a now or never opportunity . . . life or death situation.  The people had to decide . . . cross that corridor through the sea that hinged on whether or not Moses could keep his arms up long enough for everyone to get through, or stick around and see whether or not the Egyptians would show a little mercy or kill them.  The people were confronted with “surf’s up” . . . what were they to do?

They crossed the sea.

God watched over them.

God took care of them.

God did it all despite the people and their “lamenting” . . . despite their disbelief . . . despite their lack of trust.  I guess they decided that one way or another they were going to die, so they chose to go the route of drowning.  But, God took care of them!  The result was that the people “feared” the Lord and trusted in God.

Patience and trust . . . as a people of faith these two seem to be a big key to whether or not we are truly a people who live in the presence of God with complete belief in what we proclaim with our mouths.  As a pastor I have witnessed those situations in the lives of those I have served that felt and seemed as big as that of the Israelites with their backs up against the sea and the army rushing down upon them.  I have witnessed the difficulties that seem to have no way out in the lives of those I have served over the years.  I have seen how quickly the patience has evaporated in the heat of the moment . . . seen how quickly the trust has left the heart . . . and, seen how scary it is to think that there is no way anyone can survive.

Of course, the thing that any good pastor does is to remind the people that no matter how difficult or scary any situation is in life . . . God is with us.  God is always with us no matter how bleak life looks.  And, I have had more than one person over the years just laugh at me and tell me I am number one with the wrong finger . . . there is no way, in their minds, that even God will get them through what is about to happen.  Yet, those words are true . . . God is always with us.

It is all a matter of how we respond to “surf’s up!”

Are we going to pick up our surf boards and hit the waves, or are we just going to sit it out?  The Israelites had a choice to make: cross the sea or stay there and hope for the best.  Would the Egyptians be merciful?  Would they drown in the water?  Well, a person never knows until he or she takes action and does something.

Whether it was out of fear or trust that the Israelites crossed that sea does not matter.  What matters is that they decided to do something . . . they decided to move.  God provided.  God was with them.  So it is for us.  God will provide . . . God will be with us.  But, we have to move when the call is given.

It is a tough lesson to learn as the children of God . . . to trust in God’s presence through thick and thin . . . through good and bad . . . through the scary.  As the exodus story continues we will witness that this trust and patience comes and goes among the faithful for the Israelites . . . and, so it is with us today.  Belief comes and goes.  “Surf’s up” is called and we hesitate . . . hesitate whether or not we will grab our boards and go with the waves to see where we end up, or whether or not we stay on the beach and feel the safety of the moment where we are.  The choice is always ours.  What will you do?  Amen.

“Marking Time” (Exodus 12:1-14)

“This is the day you are to commemorate;

for the generations to come you shall celebrate it . . .”

(Exodus 12:14, NIV)

Today marks the celebration of independence in Brazil.  In China and South Korea it is the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.  In New Zealand they are observing Father’s Day today.  In India it is the holiday of Onam.  And, in the good old United States of America today is set aside as National Grandparents Day. 

As the human race across the planet we are a people who pause, remember, celebrate, and hope.  We are a people who mark time with periods of time that are set aside as holidays.  In our nation alone, the year 2014, we have set aside approximately two-hundred holidays as a nation or as states to observe.  Two-hundred . . . and this does not even include those of our communities, churches, and families . . . does not include personal days of remembrance and celebration like birthdays, anniversaries, and everything between. 

The word “holiday” is derived from the 12^th century Old English word haligdaeg.  When broken down halig means “holy”, and daeg means “day”.  Thus, in its simplest terms holiday is a “holy day” that is set aside as an observance and celebration . . . as a time of remembrance . . . and, as a time of hope.  And, it is a means of “marking time”.

In our reading this morning Moses and Aaron are told that the Children of God—the Israelites—are to mark time to the event that is about to happen as it will become the symbol of their freedom out of the bondage of Egypt.  God gives to Moses and Aaron specific instructions as to what they are to do in preparation for the final plague upon the Egyptians . . . to mark the doorways of their homes with the blood of a lamb as a sign to God to “pass over” in the killing spree upon the Egyptians.  And, God tells them that are to remember this day for generations to come as a symbol of their freedom.  They are to “mark time” in their lives and in their journey . . . physically and spiritually.

And, thus it came to be.

God’s final plague accomplished its goal . . . the Egyptians, tired of the plagues . . . freed God’s people and demanded that they leave at once.  Immediately the exodus began . . . immediately the people found their freedom . . . received their salvation.  It was an event to remember . . . it was a day to never forget.  Thus the words of God became practice and the observance of this “holy day”—what we refer to as the Passover—is set aside, celebrated, and remembered for what it represented and for what it promised.

As a people of faith we to are called to remembrance and hope . . . we, too, are called to “mark time” in the journey of life.  And, for most of us, we do.  We do set aside days in which we celebrate those special moments and movements in our lives.  We celebrate birthdays . . . anniversaries . . . graduations . . . days in which special things happened.  We do set aside time to remember and to celebrate.  Actually we all do it in our own unique and 

special ways as individuals and families. 

Even within the church family we set aside those “holy days”—those holidays—in which we remember and hope.  Our gathering on Sunday morning as the followers of Jesus is a time set aside to remember and hope.  Our gathering around the table to break the bread and lift the cup is a time of holiness in which we remember and hope.  We set aside the seasons of the liturgical year . . . the time of the movement of the Spirit in our lives . . . so we can remember from where we have come, where we are, and where we yet hope to go.  We are a people who “mark time”.

To “mark time” should be an important part of our practice of faith as the followers of Jesus.  For Moses and the children of God, the “Passover” became a symbol of God’s presence in their lives . . . it became a time set aside to remember God’s presence and actions to free them from bondage . . . a time to re-affirm God’s promise to never abandon them—then or forever.  And, even more importantly it is a time set aside to hope . . . to hope for what is yet to come in God’s presence . . . to dream of the kingdom.

A major part of this “holy day” for Moses and the Israelites was to be marked by thanksgiving . . . the act of giving “thanks”.  Knowing the story we can understand exactly what it is that the people of Israel were thankful for . . . freedom . . . existence . . . and affirmation as the “children of God”.  So it should be for us as we “mark time” in our own lives and journeys . . . we should have thanksgiving . . . after all, a holiday should be a “holy day” and not merely another day off from work.

For many I think that the act of giving thanks is often the forgotten ingredient . . . the missing part.  We are not always good about giving “thanks” in our lives for the presence of God in our lives.  We do not always remember to pause and say, “Thank you, Lord!”  But, we should.  In the “good” and “bad’ the presence of God is always with us.  God never abandons us.

To acknowledge the “holy” is to acknowledge the presence of God.  To acknowledge the “holy” is to create a moment of “holiness” . . . to create a “holy day” . . . a holiday.  We do not do this enough in our lives on a daily basis.  We could blame the busyness of our lives for our forgetfulness, but I think that it is more of matter of that we have just not cultivated this ability of “marking time” . . . this discipline of giving thanks.

It is true that not everything that happens is worthy of its own special day and celebration . . . not every day is Christmas or Easter or even the Passover; but, a lot of the life that happens to us is worthy of “marking time” . . . of pausing to remember, reflect, and give “thanks”.  How many times have you given “thanks” since you climbed out of bed this morning?  How many times have you paused in the moment to receive the gift of God’s presence in the morning coffee you drank . . . in reading the morning newspaper . . . in stepping out into the day and embracing the gift that it could be?  How many times have you “marked time” in your life since you got out of bed this morning?

Like the children of God before us, let us “mark time” when we pause to reflect upon the presence of God in our lives and in our journeys.  Let us pause, remember, reflect, and give “thanks”.  Let us truly make our days to be “holy days” . . . to be holidays.  As the psalmist said in Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (KJV)  Amen.

“Playing with Fire” (Exodus 3:1-15)

“If God gives you something you can do,

why in God's name wouldn't you do it?”

(Stephen King)

One of the “truths” about life is that we do not always do what we are told to do.  Awhile back my two-year old granddaughter and I were preparing for a fire in our fire pit.  Over and over again I told my granddaughter that it was hot and not to touch anything.  Like any good two-year old she dutifully repeated, “Hot!”  Even after we got the fire started I reiterated that the fire pit was hot and do not touch because it was hot.  The granddaughter was given the instructions over and over, and Grandpa felt that the message had sunk in.

Then it happened.  Removing the cover with the prod, setting it on the ground, the granddaughter proceeded to grab the handle . . . the hot handle.  She did not grab it for too long . . . well, because it was hot.  She immediately released it, got that look of horror on her face, and looked around at all the adults around the fire pit to see how she should react.  Seeing the concern on all the faces of the adults she decided it was an appropriate reaction to start crying.  After all, it was hot.

Well, luckily for the granddaughter, she barely touched the cover before she realized it was hot.  We put her had under the spigot and its cold water.  The damage was practically nothing . . . no blisters . . . nothing.  Just having the bejeepers scared out of her and a few tears.  She was fine, but she learned that playing with fire could get one burned.  A week later she again helped Grandpa prepare the fire pit, but this time . . . without any prompting from Grandpa . . . she was the one pointing out that it was “hot”.

Our reading this morning deals with “fire”.  As we continue our story from the past couple of weeks, we now see that the baby Moses has grown up and now is basically an alien in a foreign land being a shepherd for his father-in-law.  Yes, the baby Moses has grown up . . . in the span of his life up to this point he has killed a man . . . become a fugitive . . . run off to a foreign land, gotten married, and had a kid.  He is a shepherd for his father-in-law.  He is well-established, life goes on, and one day he is out tending the flock when he stumbles upon a peculiar sight . . . a burning bush.

Not only a burning bush . . . but a burning bush that talks. “Moses, Moses!” said the bush.  A burning bush that talks and knows his name.  To say the least this caught Moses’ attention.  When the bush reveals that it is God, it really grabs Moses attention who takes a worshipful pose before the bush.  The bush, God, calls out to him and gives to him a task . . . “And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way that the Egyptians are oppressing them.  So now, go.  I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Now understand, God asks Moses . . . Moses the spared child of God’s people . . . Moses the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter . . . Moses the one who killed another man . . . Moses the one who flees retribution for his actions . . . Moses who exiles himself in a foreign land away from Egypt and his people . . . Moses who is pretty content with his life as a shepherd, husband, and father . . . God asks Moses to return to Egypt, free God’s people, and lead them into a new life.  Moses knows all of this and his reaction is one that we all would probably have, “Why me, Lord?”

In the mind of Moses he does not imagine himself of the quality of the individual that God would call to take on such a huge task as freeing an oppressed people from a powerful oppressor . . . after all, Moses had not quite led a heroic life up to this point . . . and, he was only one person.  Andrew van der Bijl is a Christian missionary who is famous for his exploits of smuggling Bibles to communist countries during the height of the Cold War.  This feat earned him the nickname, “God’s smuggler”.  Brother Andrew, as he is affectionately known, says this about God’s call upon a person’s life: “God does not choose people because of their ability, but because of their availability.” 

Though Moses is thinking, “Why me?”  God is thinking, “Why not you?  What else do you have to do?”

This story is a story of calling . . . God calling one out to serve the will and purpose of God . . . God calling one out to meet the needs and serve others.  Calling is a part of who God created each of us to be . . . calling is fulfilling that relationship between God and others . . . it is not so much about “us” as individuals, but “us” as the family of God.  Author Gilbert Meilaender writes: “The point of the calling was, quite simply, that it was appointed by God to serve neighbors.  If along the way some self-fulfillment came as well, there was nothing wrong with that, but it was hardly the point of the calling.”

In the end, there was no argument that Moses could use that would deter God from calling Moses forth to serve the people . . . to bring freedom to the people . . . to restore the relationship within the family.

We all have been called by God.  We have been called to “play with fire” by God.  True, playing with fire can burn a person; yet, at the same time, stepping into the fire can bring cleansing and purification and new life.  From out of the fire there is always hope for something new and better.  God calls Moses to step into the fire . . . to come and play.  It will not be easy.  There will be the potential for great harm.  Potential for great disaster.  God calls us to try.  As author Stephen King says, “If God gives you something you can do, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?”

Understand that God is not going to call all of us out to do great tasks like Moses . . . God is not going to call us out to free an oppressed people; but, God is going to call us out to serve God and others.  The key is in listening . . . listening for the voice of God.  Sometimes God is going to use some pretty flamboyant ways to get us to listen . . . like talking burning bushes.  Other times God is going to whisper softly . . . almost so softly that we mistake it for the breeze; but, God is going to “call” us.  We just need to listen.

I think that a lot of us hear the voice of God in our lives, but we don’t always recognize it as the voice of God.  For example, how many of us have a friend or family member that we suddenly get worried and concerned about . . . something is bugging us.  Do we just sit there and brood over the feeling or do we act out on that feeling?  Do we go and see how that person is doing . . . see it there is something we can do?  That is the voice of God issuing a “call”.

There are bigger things that spark responses and feelings within us . . . wars, poverty, discrimination, disease, conflicts, problems in our communities, elder issues, and much more.  Things that prick at our hearts and minds.  That is the voice of God calling us out to serve others and God.  How will we respond?  Will we answer the call and see where the Spirit leads us in this calling . . . are we going to speak out?  Are we going to “do” something to quell the feelings we are feeling?  Are we going to play with fire?

One of the things that I love about my granddaughter is her appreciation for fires.  She loves the beauty of the fire.  She loves having her family sitting around the fire with her.  She loves the laughter and the love that is surrounding that fire pit . . . but, she also knows the danger of the fire.  She understands that if one plays with the fire one could get hurt.  She has come to understand, as much as any two-year old can, that there is power within the fire when it is used as it is intended to be use.

So it is with the “call” of God.  There is power in the “call” of God upon our lives.  Yes, there is always the potential that something could go wrong, that someone could get hurt; but, if it is approached with respect and a desire to please and do God’s will . . . well, it will turn out as God wants it to be.  After all, it is God’s will.  And, if it is God’s will, why in the world would we not do it?  Amen.