I was just going to post this poster today but as you may know if you read me often, I usually have something to say!
Long ago I was a conference speaker for a wonderful conference called “Created to Praise!” Due to health concerns of the directors, they decided to change how their ministry operated and no longer offered the conferences. I miss them!
One of the classes I taught was called
Altars of Remembrance.
If you have not read my testimony yet, you can find it at Do I Trust You Lord, Part 1 and Part 2. Because of such an incredible miracle in my life, I was drawn to the stories of the people’s response to God’s faithfulness throughout the Bible. They often built an altar of rememberance very much like we would now build memorials. A visual sign for people to see that represented a significant act of His intervention on their behalf.
Without these visual promps, we may never be aware of the significance of a site, or the people who gave lives for our freedom. Back then, they were often simply stones stacked. I am not sure how people even knew what the significance was.
So today I just wanted to point out one altar of remembrance that has always intrigued me.
It was an act not a permanent visual one.
This is an extraordinary story of God’s ways.
God told Moses go to Pharaoh and demand on His behalf, “Let My People Go, so that they may worship Me.” God sent the plagues on Egypt that eventually caused them to agree that the Children of Israel should go before the people of Egypt die at the hand of God. God could have sent them a shorter way to get out of Egypt, but instead He told them to go and encamp by the sea. Then God told Moses that He was going to harden Pharaoh and the people’s heart against them so they would pursue the children of Israel so that His GLORY would be known.
Yikes!
If you are familiar with what it takes to see God’s Glory shown, you understand that circumstances have to get really bad. So bad that there could not be a rational explanation for how they were changed. This would be no exception!
The chariots and warriors came after the children of Israel and they were blocked with no where to go because the sea was in the way. But God gave Moses instructions which he followed obediently holding his rod out and the sea separated to a wall of water on the right and a wall of water on the left. The Israelites walked across the sea with their livestock and goods more than 600,000 in number ON DRY LAND.
As their enemies advanced. God closed the sea over them as Moses again held out the rod as directed and NOT ONE SURVIVED.
Immediately the Israelites sang a song to the Lord.
A spontaneous song.
A new song!
Then Miriam, Aaron’s sister got out her timbrel or tamborine and her and other women danced in worship and sang to the Lord.
From Exodus 15 and The New International Version
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
shattered the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people[c] of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.”
I love this. To think that the women were so ready to dance in worship to the Lord that fleeing for their lives they still had their timbrels within easy access!
As one who Dances for the Lord in Worship and Intercession and as a songwriter, I am blessed that this was their celebration for God showing His Glory. From their hearts, their joy overflowed in an act of love offering themselves in heart, mind, soul and all that they are.
I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful. Jeremiah 31:4
May you remember God’s faithfulness today and express your gratitude in a meaningful way for you!
God is always faithful!! I have been singing to the Lord this morning as I experienced getting awake with anxiety at 4:30 over money and bills. I work as hard as I can and then have to hand things over to God- he will provide!
That is so sweet to share Melony! It is difficult for us in our own circumstances to often apply God’s Word and ways to our lives, yet when we do and do so in faith we find peace for the journey and a testimony of His faithfulness!