Exodus 15:1-21
Memory Verse: Exodus 15:2
“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.”
Song: Same God by Elevation Worship
Do you have a story from your life that you’d consider the capstone? Everything changed for you after this event or season of your life. Your life was never the same; your personhood and trajectory forever changed.
Arguably, the Exodus story is the capstone story of the Israelites in the Old Testament. We get a peak at the story in the verse preceding our passage today: “When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.” Exodus 14:31 NASB
The response? A song was recorded for us in 15:1-21.
When I read this passage, I noticed God is described as highly exalted (v.1b), my strength and song (v. 2), a warrior (v.3), powerful and majestic (v. 6 and 7), loving and kind (v.13). I observed the things this passage says God has done, such as become my salvation (v. 2), drowned Pharaoh's elite army (v. 4), split a sea in two (v. 8), purchased His people (v.16), planted his people (v. 17), and placed His people (v.17). Those last three ideas are what I want to camp out on today– that God has purchased, planted, and placed His people. Look again at verses 16b and 17: “[...] until the people pass over whom you have purchased. You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your dwelling. The sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.” (Exodus 15:16b-17 NASB)
What does it mean for the original audience of Exodus that God has purchased, planted, and placed them? What does it mean for us today?
On this side of the cross, we have an even greater reality: All people who confess and believe in Jesus as LORD (Rom 10:9) are purchased by the blood of Christ, have the Word implanted in them, and have the Spirit of God dwelling in them. How much MORE worthy of praise is this reality for us today?!
The Israelites were purchased, planted, and placed to worship God in the Promised Land and bring Him glory, but if you keep reading, you know they failed miserably. The very next passage is about them complaining to Moses and God about not having enough water, bread, and meat. By chapter 32, they are full-on worshiping a golden cow made by their own hands.
God’s redemptive plan didn’t end with the Exodus, the Promised Land, or the Israelites.
We have been purchased by the blood of Jesus, implanted with the Word, and His Spirit placed in us to draw others into this reality that is true for “everyone who believes, no matter who they are” (Romans 3:21 NLT). If this is true of you, today in JOY, thank God for purchasing, planting, and placing His Spirit in you. Like the Israelites, write a few lines of poetry to our good God, sing a song you love, or simply shout in praise!
Who else in your life needs to receive this good news? Take a moment to pray for them today, that God would open up a door for you to share your joy with them (Col 4:2-4).
