Did you ever wonder what was wrong with the Israelites? They constantly rocked between faith and doubt with alarming regularity. They were excited when Moses told them God would bring them out of Egypt. Then they got angry when their labor increased. Then they were elated when God brought them out of Egypt with a dazzling display of his power. Then, at the Red Sea, they are angry again. They were terrified because the Egyptian army was after them and they were trapped at the edge of the Red Sea.
How could they forget the 10 nation-wide miraculous signs that God had sent into Egypt? How could they doubt God’s power and his love?
Because they were people. They could doubt for the same reasons we do. The army chasing them was very visible. God’s promised protection was not. Trusting in God in the face of very real danger requires a powerful faith. That kind of faith is God-given and it is strengthened through adversity.
We know that God will part the Red Sea and destroy the army that is after them. It’s one of the most well-known and astonishing miracles in history. The Israelites didn’t—not yet. The army was still coming, the sea was still blocking them and they were afraid.
We don’t have to wonder why they were afraid—we’ve been there. Maybe it’s COVID-19, maybe it’s something else. There are a whole lot of scary things in life. They are very real. And our faith isn’t always that strong.
God recorded his miracles to teach us to trust him. When we are trapped between our own dangers and our own Red Sea, he is strengthening our faith and training us to focus on him instead of the fear. We don’t have to doubt God’s power or his love, but we do. We don’t have to wonder if he’s going to hear and answer our prayers, but we do.
One of the best parts of the parting of the Red Sea is that God took care of the Israelites even when they doubted, even when they were afraid, even when they were angry. God takes care of us too—even when we doubt, or are afraid or angry. Our faith is in our almighty and merciful God, especially when we need him most. Let’s not forget.
Exodus 14:21–28 (EHV)
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all night long the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned the sea into dry land. The waters were divided. 22The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry ground. The waters were like a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23The Egyptians pursued them, and all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his charioteers went after them into the middle of the sea. 24During the last watch of the night, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud. Then he confused the Egyptian forces. 25He jammed their chariot wheels, and they had difficulty driving them. The Egyptians said, “We must flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
God bless you,
Pastor Tesch
26Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their charioteers.” 27So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal place. While the Egyptians were fleeing from it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the middle of the sea. 28The waters came back and covered the chariots and the charioteers, the entire army of Pharaoh that went into the sea after the Israelites. Not even one of them survived.
Worship at Trinity
Come to worship at your Lord’s house! You can sign up here: https://trinitymarinette.com/events/worship-service-3/ or call Pastor or call the church office to let us know which service you prefer.
Here is this week’s bulletin: https://trinitymarinette.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-08-09-Announcements-The-Tenth-Sunday-after-Pentecost.pdf. Check it out.
First Day of School! – Plans are in place to for opening day at Trinity Lutheran School! We are gearing up to be open five days a week for in-person instruction! Our school start dates are as follows: K-8 starts on Aug. 24; 3K PreK starts on Sept. 3; and 4K PreK starts on Sept. 4. Although we would like to open up as close to normal as possible, our TLS School Reopening Plan was created to outline various accommodations we will need to make in order to have our students return to a safe, clean environment for school. The Board of Ed will be meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11 in order to put their stamp of approval on the initial Plan. We ask that you continue to pray for the good health of our students, staff, and families throughout the school year!
School Theme – The theme of our school ministry for 2020-2021 is from 1st Peter 3:15b: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.” What great direction for all of God’s people!
If you would like to support the Lord’s work at Trinity, you may contribute at trinitymarinette.com/giving/ or you can mail it to
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
1501 Thomas St.
Marinette, WI 54143