“As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord ... But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.”
Exodus 14: 10, 13-15 NRSV
I love comparing texts in different translations or paraphrases of scripture. Below is just part of my research on, what is for me, the keynote verse;
“... speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:” KJV
“Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!” Living Bible
“Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving.” The Message
“Tell the Israelites to move on.” NIV
“Tell the Israelites that they should break camp.” New World Translation
Given that this biblical reflection falls on the weekend of the May Assembly, I thought it would be appropriate to reprise my contribution to the 50th Anniversary book of reflections.
Most of us are familiar with the story of the Exodus and the struggles not only of the people of Israel but of their leaders and Moses in particular. Having been delivered from the bondage of Egypt, the Israelites were not always and everywhere filled with gratitude and joy! This passage is a good example. The temptation was to look back with the inherent risk of getting stuck. God, through his servant Moses and others had to constantly remind them that they had to move forward.
Being brought up with the King James Bible, I love the solemnity and majesty of “... speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” But I was also struck by the language of the NWT with its, “Tell the Israelites that they should break camp.”
The people of God had come to a halt. They hadn`t just paused, they had set up camp and needed to move on. This is a challenge to Areas and Churches in their work and witness. It is also clear that without strong and prophetic leadership, the people of God can lack direction and motivation. We are called, not to set up camp and hunker down for the duration, but to move forward.
Prayer
When we are haunted by the Pharaohs of our fears, pursued by the Egyptians of our egos, and held back by the Red Sea of our reticence, help us to stand still and see your salvation, move forward in faith, and pilgrimage to the land of promise. Amen.
Call to Action
Read again the different versions of the text above.
Which one speaks particularly powerfully to you?
Has the CF/Area/your local Church come to a halt and if so, how?
How can you encourage and enable the CF/Area/Church to “break camp” and move forward?
Alan Kennedy
Comments