“Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.” Exodus 14:1-4

My heart squeezes sadly a little every time I hear the Lord say, “Then they will know that I am the Lord!” Do you hear it? Can you hear it in His voice? His desire to be known by the people of his own creation is intense, real, heartrending. Do you ever wonder why he has to go to such great lengths to get people’s attention, to reveal himself? And do you ever read this repetitive phrase – “Then they will know that I am the Lord” – and wonder… but will they?

Because if there is any one power humans have in excess, it is denial.

Look at what God did in Egypt prior to this chapter. He turned off the sun. He turned an entire river into blood. He wrecked their livestock with hail, their produce with bugs, their health with boils, their futures with the death of EVERY firstborn son in Egypt. And yet – Pharaoh, who had been convinced for a moment that he was dealing with a powerful God, once again, changed. his. mind. And came after God’s people, again.

On the one hand, I can’t wrap my head around this point: God turned off the sun, and Pharaoh still didn’t get who he was dealing with. On the other hand, I’ve seen miracles too. I know how hard I’ve prayed for them, and I know it was God who came through. And yet… was it? Was it really? Or did I just get lucky that one time, or did I just work harder than I had before, or was it doctors or politicians or my family or… actually ME who really made it happen? When God uses human hands to meet my needs in miraculous ways… to whom does the credit really belong?

Chances are good that when things go my way, I’m going to find a way to convince myself it was my own doing.

Oof. But it’s true.

So how, then, am I ever going to know who God is when I keep attributing his actions to myself?

Oof.

Well. Human denial can go a lot farther than it should. But it has its (extreme) limits, too, I hope.

Sometimes, to teach us denying humans the undeniable goodness and power of the God we serve, he has to make it really, really obvious.

Sea-splitting obvious.

So he lets us get trapped in a vulnerable location. He himself commands us to go there. He actually tells us to set up camp at Pi-Hahiroth, fully knowing how vulnerable a location it is, knowing that Pharaoh will think we are confused, and knowing he is the only, only Being in all of creation that could pull off what he’s about to do.

Picture it: the people are trapped, completely trapped, between Pharaoh’s army, the most advanced, well-fed, well-funded human army in the world, and the sea. Not the sort of thing that can be forded or swum across, you feel me. No bridges. No boats. No way around. No way out. TRAPPED. With their weak and vulnerable loved ones. With their elderly, their sick, their pregnant women, their children. And beginning to fondly remember their nice cozy (slave) beds in Egypt… because the fact of the matter is, they were about to die out there, in the wilderness. Everything they had feared, every fear that had kept them too scared to leave Egypt until now, until they courageously chose to trust God and head into the wilderness, believing he wouldn’t let it happen, that he would take care of them, that all these horrible things humans had experienced in the wilderness before would not happen to them – well. It was happening, all of it was happening. They were out of their own strength, running on empty, depleted, exhausted, done for. And they knew it. Surrender and suffer, or don’t and die. These were the choices that were within their power.

And that’s it, isn’t it? Never do we ever consider choices outside our own power. We can’t make it work, so surely God can’t either, amiright? I mean, it’s just math. It’s just science. It’s just reality. Some things just. can’t. happen.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:15-16

I’m sorry, divide the what now? What do you mean why are we crying out to you?? Get moving WHERE?? Divide the WHAT. NOW. Have you ever tried to cut water in half? I don’t mean pour one cup of water into several containers, I mean grab a knife and try to cut the water – with a knife. Divide the water. Sure, yeah, why didn’t I think of that.

There are just some things even the most ignorant of us know cannot happen. It does not exist.

But God did it.

And in that moment… they knew. The whole world, for a moment, knew.

I know where I’m trapped in my life. I know the corner I’m backed into, and I know that everything I’ve tried to do to get out of it has failed. I know where I am – I’m camped at Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. The location is vulnerable, and the enemy is – gleefully – coming to take advantage of my folly. There is no escape.

…Or is there?

Lord, rip open the water in front of me. Walk me through it, and let it drown my enemy. I know you’re coming. Let the denying world be silenced and stand in awe and reverence. Be undeniable. You are God.

May we, forever, know it.