Day 17: September 20, 2025: Exodus 14-18 and Psalm 90

The people of Israel begin their trek across the wilderness toward the promised land. They are not wandering yet, because Moses hasn’t disobeyed God when he strikes the rock without God asking him to do so. That comes later. But in this reading we see the parting of the Red Sea. There have been many apologists who look for ways in which to downplay this event as something less than miraculous because they serve a weak God who cannot make this happen. I’m okay with it happening, in fact, I believe it actually did happen. Same with the manna and the quail, God provided as is God’s nature.

It does always strike me that it is the people of Israel who seem to be the antagonists in these stories. The Egyptians are the clear villains, but the people of Israel play a close second. We see them just about every single chapter described as complaining about something. First it was the Egyptians who were closing in on them, then the water then the food. Time after time Moses has to intercede for the people so that God would not become so frustrated with them that he would find an alternative to His people.

We are introduced to Joshua in this reading and he is simply described as a warrior that Moses trusted to carry out his military plans. Joshua defeated the Amalekites and so began his journey toward leading the people into the promised land. Psalm 90 has that often used phrase that one day is like a thousand years. I have often thought of that in order to put into perspective how much I don’t know about God.