The Lord said to Moses, why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 14:15
Reading each night is my children’s bedtime routine. One particular evening, my daughter, Kate, chose to read Uncle Willie’s Soup Kitchen by Dyanne Disalvo. The story introduces hunger and homelessness from a children’s point of view and prompted Kate and I to talk about the truths of people in need, specifically orphans. As we discussed the reality of crying children alone in orphanages with no one to comfort them, Kate began to weep. She was so burdened for these children that she was grieving as if she were physically hurt. I hugged her tightly and began to pray.
Lord, please help these orphans. Give them food, shelter, and comfort.
I couldn’t finish the prayer because I began to weep. I sensed God whispering to my heart,
Who is going to feed them? Who is going to give them shelter? Who is going to comfort them? Why are you praying when I put you on this earth to do the very things you are asking of me?
I will never forget this moment. It was a call to action. It still is a call to action. While we cannot earn our salvation, the Bible says faith without deeds is dead (James 2:26). We must be doers of the word, not just hearers only (James 1:22).
Moses had a similar experience in the book of Exodus. After 430 years and 10 plagues, Pharaoh finally released the Israelites from slavery. While in the wilderness, the Israelites received word Pharaoh had changed his mind and was pursuing them. The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord.
The Lord said to Moses, why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on! Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. (Exodus 14:15)
The Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving! Prayer has a vital place in our lives, but our prayers must be followed by action. He has put us on this earth to accomplish his will, not just pray about it.
In verse 21, we witness Moses stretch out his hand over the sea and the Lord drive the sea back. God turned the water into dry land so the Israelites could cross through safely. Our acts of obedience can be the genesis for God’s great miracles!
While we cannot solve the world’s problems singlehandedly, we can all do our part. God can use our love offerings of action to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. Our love offerings may be a hug to the broken-hearted, a note to the discouraged, a meal for the hungry, clothes for the less fortunate, shelter for the homeless, or a financial gift to the church. No act is too big or too small. In God’s hands, our simple acts are multiplied.
The Bible is filled with calls to action. He is giving us the same call today. Do you hear his whisper to your heart?
Who is going to do these things you are asking of me? Rise! Go! Love!
And when we do, we may just witness our own Red Sea of miracles.
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