SYW Day 1: Waymaker
Reading: Exodus 14
Exodus 14:13, 14 & 21, 22
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
Devotional
The journey from the United States to Liberia is not an easy one. If you live in the Midwest, the very first leg of your journey will be a drive to the nearest airport. Then a flight to a bigger airport stateside (usually Chicago or Minneapolis). Sometimes you’ll fly from that hub city to an even bigger hub city on the East Coast. And then, it’s time to hunker down for an overnight, transatlantic flight. Since you’ll be on this airplane for anywhere from eight to ten hours, you can get lots of shut-eye—that is, if you can sleep sitting up! Are you tired yet? Once you land somewhere in Europe (usually Amsterdam, Brussels, or London), you’re only halfway there! But don’t worry, there’s a fresh Belgian waffle waiting for you during your five-hour layover. Your final flight will take another 8-10 hours with a quick stopover in Sierra Leone before you finally land—30+ hours after leaving your house!—in Monrovia. You’ll probably be yawning and exhausted, but you’ll be greeted with lots of hugs and a party at the airport—usually complete with songs and prayers of thanksgiving.
Traveling today is often as easy as purchasing a ticket and securing a passport. But there are so many things that go into each and every journey. From the gas station attendant who fills up our car to the coffee lady who keeps us fueled with caffeine, many things must come together for us to get from point A to point B. Making our way around the world is a very complicated endeavor.
The dictionary defines waymaker as “one who makes a way.” When God acts as our waymaker, He doesn’t just clear a path for us, He makes a path for us where one didn’t exist before. He sees the trouble we face and can move mountains, raise valleys, and even make the bottom of the sea a safe and sheltered route. What feels impossible to us, is just God doing what he does so well: making a way for his beloved children. And all along the path he protects and provides for our every need.
Further Thought
What journey are you facing today?
Where is God making a way for you even though it might feel impossible?
Remember these words no matter what you face: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” God will make a way.