They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs; You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice. (Psalm 65:8)
When God divided the Red Sea, He made a way of escape for Israel and, at the same time, brought an end to Pharaoh’s great army. All that evening the people crossed the sea bed, which had been dried out by the breath of God, and all the while the chariots of Egypt were held in check unable to pursue them. But early in the morning, as Israel came to the other side, God caused the waters of the sea to return and destroyed every last man who had pursued them. In celebration of their deliverance, the people of God burst into song; a portion of that song says:
“The people will hear and be afraid; sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling will take hold of them. All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away. Fear and dread will fall on them; (Exodus 15:14-16)
According to the song, at that moment, this demonstration of God’s great power overwhelmed peoples far away in the land of Canaan. This was confirmed by Rahab of Jericho who told two Hebrew spies, “All the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt” (Joshua 2:9-10). Keep in mind this conversation occurred forty years after the event; it was a fear that had haunted the Canaanites for decades.
The point is that, with one act, God destroyed one enemy and simultaneously caused another foe — one they had not yet encountered — to be stricken with fear. Also with that same action, God demonstrated to those who love Him how quickly things can change. In the evening they were being threatened by a great and mighty force; by sunrise, their enemies were decimated and they were freed — deliverance can come that quickly. So let us remember that, as David said, “They are afraid of Your signs” but for those of us who serve Him, those signs of His might mean life. It may be that some of our nights are filled with weeping, but we have the assurance that “joy comes in the morning” (Psalms 30:5).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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