Destructive Power - "Jehovah Is A Manly Person Of War"

The Israelites were trapped - wedged between forbidding mountain cliffs and an impassable sea. The Egyptians army, a ruthless killing machine, was in hot pursuit, determined to annihilate them. Still, Moses urged God's people not to lose hope. "Jehovah will himself fight for you," he assured them. -Exodus 14:14.

Even so, Moses apparently called out to Jehovah, and God responded: "Why do you keep crying out to me? . . .Lift up your rod and stretch your hand out over the sea and split it apart." (Exodus 14:15, 16) Just picture the unfolding of events, Jehovah immediately commands his angel, and the pillar of cloud moves to Israel's rear, perhaps spreading out like a wall and blocking the Egyptian line of attack. (Exodus 14:19, 20; Psalm 105:39) Moses stretches out his hand. Driven by a strong wind, the sea splits apart. The waters somehow congeal and stand up like walls, opening up a path wide enough to accommodate the entire nation! -Exodus 14:21; 15:8.

Faced with this display of might, Pharaoh should order his troops home. Instead, prideful Pharaoh orders an attack. (Exodus 14:23) The Egyptians rush into the seabed in pursuit, but their charge soon dissolves into chaos as the wheels of their chariots begin falling off.l Once the Israelites are safe on the other side, Jehovah commands Moses: "Stretch your hand out over the sea, that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, their war chariots and their cavalrymen." The water walls collapse, burying Pharaoh and his forces! - Exodus 14:24-28; Psalm 136:15.

The deliverance of the nation of Israel at the Red Sea was a momentous event in the history of God's dealings with mankind. There Jehovah proved himself to be "a manly person of war." (Exodus 15:3) How, though, do you react to this portrayal of Jehovah? To be honest, war has brought much pain and misery to humankind. Could it be that God's use of destructive power seems more like a deterrent than and incentive to your drawing close to him?

Next time: Divine War Versus Human Conflicts

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002