1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:25,931 --> 00:01:30,131 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, a calming 14 00:01:30,211 --> 00:01:34,531 Speaker 2: scripture-centered devotional podcast. designed to help you end each day 15 00:01:34,591 --> 00:01:37,390 Speaker 2: with God's Word in your mind and on your heart. 16 00:01:40,351 --> 00:01:43,591 Speaker 2: Right after this short word from our sponsors, we will 17 00:01:43,631 --> 00:01:57,591 Speaker 2: reflect on tonight's scripture, Exodus chapter 14. Tonight's reflection is 18 00:01:57,651 --> 00:02:03,491 Speaker 2: written by Amanda Eidelman and read by Kyle Norman. Exodus 19 00:02:03,521 --> 00:02:10,031 Speaker 2: chapter 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, Tell the 20 00:02:10,111 --> 00:02:15,631 Speaker 2: Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi-haroth, between Megiddo 21 00:02:15,791 --> 00:02:18,791 Speaker 2: and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, 22 00:02:19,411 --> 00:02:25,270 Speaker 2: directly opposite Baal-ziphon. Pharaoh will think, The Israelites are wandering 23 00:02:25,321 --> 00:02:28,841 Speaker 2: around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert. 24 00:02:29,921 --> 00:02:33,351 Speaker 2: And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. 25 00:02:34,611 --> 00:02:37,731 Speaker 2: But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and 26 00:02:37,791 --> 00:02:41,061 Speaker 2: all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I 27 00:02:41,131 --> 00:02:47,241 Speaker 2: am the Lord. So the Israelites did this. When the 28 00:02:47,261 --> 00:02:49,341 Speaker 2: king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, 29 00:02:50,020 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, 30 00:02:54,321 --> 00:02:57,531 Speaker 2: What have we done? We've let the Israelites go and 31 00:02:57,571 --> 00:03:01,711 Speaker 2: have lost their services. So he had his chariot made ready, 32 00:03:02,391 --> 00:03:05,370 Speaker 2: and took his army with him, he took six hundred 33 00:03:05,431 --> 00:03:08,971 Speaker 2: of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots 34 00:03:09,011 --> 00:03:13,831 Speaker 2: of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord 35 00:03:13,911 --> 00:03:17,310 Speaker 2: hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, so that 36 00:03:17,371 --> 00:03:23,041 Speaker 2: he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians, 37 00:03:23,740 --> 00:03:28,081 Speaker 2: all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops, pursued the 38 00:03:28,161 --> 00:03:31,701 Speaker 2: Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea 39 00:03:32,291 --> 00:03:39,071 Speaker 2: near Piharoth, opposite Baal Ziphon. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites 40 00:03:39,111 --> 00:03:42,371 Speaker 2: looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching towards them. 41 00:03:43,331 --> 00:03:46,651 Speaker 2: They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They 42 00:03:46,691 --> 00:03:50,031 Speaker 2: said to Moses, Was it because there were no graves 43 00:03:50,071 --> 00:03:52,951 Speaker 2: in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? 44 00:03:53,811 --> 00:03:55,851 Speaker 2: What have you done to us by bringing us out 45 00:03:55,891 --> 00:03:58,781 Speaker 2: of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, Leave 46 00:03:58,821 --> 00:04:02,871 Speaker 2: us alone, let us serve the Egyptians? It would have 47 00:04:02,891 --> 00:04:05,631 Speaker 2: been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to 48 00:04:05,711 --> 00:04:10,331 Speaker 2: die in the desert. Moses answered the people, Do not 49 00:04:10,371 --> 00:04:14,411 Speaker 2: be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance 50 00:04:14,471 --> 00:04:17,631 Speaker 2: that the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you 51 00:04:17,671 --> 00:04:20,881 Speaker 2: see today you will never see again. The Lord will 52 00:04:20,941 --> 00:04:26,181 Speaker 2: fight for you. You need only to be still. Then 53 00:04:26,201 --> 00:04:28,901 Speaker 2: the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out 54 00:04:28,941 --> 00:04:32,591 Speaker 2: to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your 55 00:04:32,630 --> 00:04:35,451 Speaker 2: staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to 56 00:04:35,491 --> 00:04:38,791 Speaker 2: divide the water so that the Israelites can go through 57 00:04:38,831 --> 00:04:42,170 Speaker 2: the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts 58 00:04:42,211 --> 00:04:45,131 Speaker 2: of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. 59 00:04:45,161 --> 00:04:49,061 Speaker 2: And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, 60 00:04:49,601 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know 61 00:04:53,140 --> 00:04:56,241 Speaker 2: that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, 62 00:04:56,621 --> 00:05:01,181 Speaker 2: his chariots and his horsemen. Then the angel of God said, 63 00:05:01,521 --> 00:05:04,661 Speaker 2: who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew 64 00:05:04,761 --> 00:05:08,900 Speaker 2: and went behind them. A pillar of cloud also moved 65 00:05:09,201 --> 00:05:12,741 Speaker 2: from in front and stood behind them, coming between the 66 00:05:12,821 --> 00:05:17,301 Speaker 2: armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night, the cloud 67 00:05:17,341 --> 00:05:20,421 Speaker 2: brought darkness to the one side and light to the 68 00:05:20,481 --> 00:05:24,351 Speaker 2: other side. So neither went near the other all night long. 69 00:05:26,491 --> 00:05:29,661 Speaker 2: Then Moses stretched out his hands over the sea, And 70 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,341 Speaker 2: all that night the Lord drove the sea back with 71 00:05:32,401 --> 00:05:35,391 Speaker 2: a strong east wind and turned it to dry land. 72 00:05:36,151 --> 00:05:39,451 Speaker 2: The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the 73 00:05:39,511 --> 00:05:42,391 Speaker 2: sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on 74 00:05:42,431 --> 00:05:46,731 Speaker 2: their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued them, 75 00:05:47,351 --> 00:05:50,701 Speaker 2: and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them 76 00:05:50,741 --> 00:05:54,021 Speaker 2: into the sea. During the last watch of the night, 77 00:05:54,421 --> 00:05:56,561 Speaker 2: the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and 78 00:05:56,581 --> 00:06:00,211 Speaker 2: the cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 79 00:06:01,311 --> 00:06:03,991 Speaker 2: He jammed the wheels of the chariots, so that they 80 00:06:04,031 --> 00:06:07,911 Speaker 2: had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, Let us get 81 00:06:07,991 --> 00:06:10,971 Speaker 2: away from the Israelites. The Lord is fighting for them 82 00:06:11,051 --> 00:06:16,911 Speaker 2: against Egypt. The Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your 83 00:06:16,931 --> 00:06:19,731 Speaker 2: hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow 84 00:06:19,791 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: back over the Egyptians and their chariots and their horsemen. 85 00:06:24,001 --> 00:06:27,321 Speaker 2: Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak, 86 00:06:27,961 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: The sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were 87 00:06:31,501 --> 00:06:34,561 Speaker 2: fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 88 00:06:35,341 --> 00:06:38,161 Speaker 2: The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen, 89 00:06:38,541 --> 00:06:41,821 Speaker 2: the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites 90 00:06:41,861 --> 00:06:45,671 Speaker 2: into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the 91 00:06:45,751 --> 00:06:49,231 Speaker 2: Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a 92 00:06:49,271 --> 00:06:51,531 Speaker 2: wall of water on their right and on their left. 93 00:06:52,331 --> 00:06:55,411 Speaker 2: That day, the Lord saved Israel from the hands of 94 00:06:55,431 --> 00:06:59,341 Speaker 2: the Egyptians. And Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on 95 00:06:59,380 --> 00:07:02,801 Speaker 2: the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand 96 00:07:02,841 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 2: of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the 97 00:07:06,801 --> 00:07:10,451 Speaker 2: Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses, 98 00:07:10,751 --> 00:07:18,651 Speaker 2: his servant. Humans are firm believers in the laws of 99 00:07:18,691 --> 00:07:22,811 Speaker 2: this world. We are quick to assert that something is impossible. 100 00:07:23,591 --> 00:07:26,091 Speaker 2: There's no doubt in our minds that gravity will keep 101 00:07:26,171 --> 00:07:29,611 Speaker 2: us on earth. or our lungs will convert the atmosphere 102 00:07:29,731 --> 00:07:33,831 Speaker 2: into life on our behalf. As we grow, we observe 103 00:07:33,851 --> 00:07:37,471 Speaker 2: the laws of nature, and we respect them. They set 104 00:07:37,631 --> 00:07:42,611 Speaker 2: order in an otherwise chaotic world. God set these laws 105 00:07:42,671 --> 00:07:45,351 Speaker 2: in motion. He is the one who tells the waters 106 00:07:45,391 --> 00:07:48,391 Speaker 2: of the oceans to stop, for waves to crash and 107 00:07:48,411 --> 00:07:52,771 Speaker 2: land to begin. The predictability of nature is a comfort. 108 00:07:53,531 --> 00:07:57,041 Speaker 2: It helps us understand the bounds of this existence, and 109 00:07:57,081 --> 00:08:02,141 Speaker 2: make sense of our humanity. There are times when we 110 00:08:02,201 --> 00:08:07,410 Speaker 2: are too quick to see only limitations. While God sets 111 00:08:07,471 --> 00:08:11,351 Speaker 2: our world in motion, we cannot forget that he also 112 00:08:11,391 --> 00:08:15,271 Speaker 2: has the power to miraculously intervene when he sees fit. 113 00:08:16,271 --> 00:08:18,691 Speaker 2: This was the case with the Israelites, who had been 114 00:08:18,731 --> 00:08:25,081 Speaker 2: trapped in slavery for much too long. God became impatient 115 00:08:25,101 --> 00:08:27,821 Speaker 2: with their oppression and made a way for his people 116 00:08:27,881 --> 00:08:31,981 Speaker 2: to find freedom. God sent plagues that defied the rules 117 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,061 Speaker 2: of nature to show his power and his might. Eventually, 118 00:08:36,101 --> 00:08:40,371 Speaker 2: the Pharaoh reluctantly let the Israelites go, but even after 119 00:08:40,451 --> 00:08:44,471 Speaker 2: bearing witness to God's great power and wrath, he still 120 00:08:44,511 --> 00:08:48,631 Speaker 2: sent his chariots after the escaping crowds of people. God, 121 00:08:48,810 --> 00:08:53,601 Speaker 2: once again, made the impossible possible, pulling back the waters 122 00:08:53,641 --> 00:08:57,991 Speaker 2: of the sea so his people could escape. Are you 123 00:08:58,021 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: waiting for God to pull back the waters on your behalf? 124 00:09:01,701 --> 00:09:05,561 Speaker 2: Do you anticipate God doing the impossible so you can 125 00:09:05,601 --> 00:09:09,441 Speaker 2: make it to the promised land? Or have you given 126 00:09:09,641 --> 00:09:12,961 Speaker 2: up hope, lacking the faith of a mustard seed that 127 00:09:13,001 --> 00:09:17,741 Speaker 2: can move mountains? It's easy to lose hope, to believe 128 00:09:17,780 --> 00:09:20,601 Speaker 2: that others have always said about you to succumb to 129 00:09:20,641 --> 00:09:24,700 Speaker 2: your circumstances, but God invites us to trust in Him 130 00:09:24,741 --> 00:09:28,851 Speaker 2: in all things. believing that he will make our path straight. 131 00:09:30,131 --> 00:09:34,651 Speaker 2: You are invited to watch with anticipation as God makes 132 00:09:34,731 --> 00:09:42,661 Speaker 2: a way when you and others cannot see one. God, 133 00:09:43,181 --> 00:09:45,941 Speaker 2: we believe that you are greater than the laws of nature, 134 00:09:46,761 --> 00:09:50,221 Speaker 2: that you can do abundantly above and beyond all we 135 00:09:50,261 --> 00:09:54,710 Speaker 2: could think, ask, or imagine. We do not give up 136 00:09:54,791 --> 00:09:57,931 Speaker 2: hope though we trust that you are working even when 137 00:09:57,971 --> 00:10:02,811 Speaker 2: we can't see it. In our moments of despair, remind 138 00:10:02,910 --> 00:10:06,261 Speaker 2: us of the Israelites who you saw, who you loved, 139 00:10:06,581 --> 00:10:08,721 Speaker 2: and who you moved the sea so that they could 140 00:10:08,780 --> 00:10:14,461 Speaker 2: find freedom. Move my sea, Jesus. Make a way for me. 141 00:10:15,691 --> 00:10:22,471 Speaker 2: Help me find my promised land. Amen. How does tonight's 142 00:10:22,491 --> 00:10:25,891 Speaker 2: scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Your 143 00:10:25,951 --> 00:10:38,701 Speaker 2: Nightly Scripture forum discussion. Thank you for listening. to Your 144 00:10:38,861 --> 00:10:44,940 Speaker 2: Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture was read from the New International 145 00:10:45,001 --> 00:10:52,001 Speaker 2: Version by Biblica All Rights Reserved. If tonight's episode blessed you, 146 00:10:52,961 --> 00:10:57,050 Speaker 2: be sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts so 147 00:10:57,091 --> 00:11:02,611 Speaker 2: your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Your 148 00:11:02,731 --> 00:11:07,171 Speaker 2: Nightly Scripture is a production of of Life Audio and 149 00:11:07,251 --> 00:11:12,931 Speaker 2: Salem Media. Thank you, and we'll see you tomorrow night.