In the book of Exodus when the Israelites are fleeing the
Egyptians, they begin to fear for their lives and become upset with Moses for
taking them away from their life of slavery into what appears to be certain
death. This is just before God parts the
Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape and the Egyptians to die instead. Moses has to remind them just Who is fighting
on their side.
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. The Lord will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”
~Exodus
14:13-14~
This was not the first time God had
provided miracles for the Israelites and He has performed countless miracles
since His people wandered in the desert.
Over and over throughout Scripture, people seem to be on the brink of
death or disaster and the Lord comes through and provides. Over and over in my own life, He has
continued to show up and provide miracles.
But I find myself like Peter and the
rest of the disciples. These twelve men
were Jesus’ closest friends. Yet it says
in Matthew 26 that Peter disowned Jesus three times as the Lord foretold.
Then
Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will
disown me three times.” And he went
outside and wept bitterly.
~Matthew
26:75~
And when Jesus was arrested, ALL the
disciples deserted Him.
…Then
all the disciples deserted him and fled.
~Matthew
26:56b~
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus
confided to these men He loved that He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the
point of death.” He asked Peter, James,
and John to keep watch with Him in His despair.
Yet they fell asleep.
“Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
~Matthew
26:41~
How often do I disown Jesus through my
actions? How often do I fall asleep and
fall into temptation when I should be watching and praying instead? Do I desert Jesus? I’m sure I have on multiple occasions. But the beauty of Jesus’ love for us is that
no matter how often we disown Him, flee from Him, fall asleep on Him, He still
stands up for us, marches up to the cross, stretches out His arms, and dies for
us. That is amazing grace.
