Sermon on Exodus 14; Stepping Forward with the Power to Make Things Happen

Rev. George Miller
Sept 30, 2018
Exodus 14

A few days ago the most unexpected phone-call came in. It was from a girl I used to take care of over 2 decades ago in Minneapolis, except she is no longer a child, but a middle aged woman.

She shared her memories of our group walks along the creek, the trips to Minnehaha Falls, and the old Hollywood films we’d watch.

This young woman had been through so much while growing up: in and out of the foster care system, dating the wrong kinds of men and being in the worst situations.

In many ways, she should not be alive. Still, through it all, she somehow managed to survive and make it through to the other side, in which she is happily married to a great guy, living a comfortable life in the suburbs.

She called to share good news- she is planning to have a baby, and if it’s a girl, she will be called Cadence Kitt.

Cadence after the military word to march and to step forward with intent, usually in beat and in time.

And Kitt- named after Eartha Kitt, one of the brightest, glamorous stars in the universe, who Orson Welles called “the most exciting woman in the world.”

She had learned about Eartha from the old films we used to watch and found a kindred soul in this powerhouse of a woman who also overcame hardships.

“My daughter is going to be strong, and smart and confident,” she said.

Cadence Kitt: what a name, a true testimony to the audacity of hope, and the ability to leave the past behind while marching forward with the power to make things happen.

What a fitting phone call to receive considering the contents of today’s scripture; a fabulous tale of faith.

If the story of Joseph gives us hope, Abraham and Sarah teaches about our grandparents, and Noah assures us that God remembers, then this story tells us how God’s people came to be, moving from a life of woe into a life of wonder.

And as usual, none of it makes any sense.

Moses being called by God to be his chosen leader makes no sense.

He was born to slaves, cast into the Nile, and adopted as child. As a young person he killed a man and ran away in fear, spending decades as a shepherd before finding himself having a conversation with a burning bush.

Yet God called him and not a soldier or a scholar or a politician to set the people free.

It makes no sense that poor, beat down slaves with rickety wagons and babies on their hips would stand a chance against an educated, elite army with streamlined chariots and weapons of war.

It certainly makes no sense that a wall of water could form on the right and on the left or that a cloud of light or pillar of fire would follow them. Yet we’re told that’s what happens.

This lack of sense, this leaving of logic is made even more apparent in the cries of the people.

With certain death coming their way, they look back, pining for what once was.

They fool themselves into thinking the past was not so bad, thinking it’s better to go back to the way things were than to take a chance and march into what can be.

This lack of sense is apparent in their quick ability to blame Moses, who was only doing what God had called him to do.

They absolutely dread the idea that they may die in the middle of nowhere.

Moses tries his best to soothe them. “Stand firm.” “See what God’s gonna do.” “Stay still.”

But God? God has another plan.

“Na-ah Moses,” God says, “NOW is not the time to be complacent. NOW is not the time to be like stones.”

“NOW is the time to go ahead! NOW is the time to move forward with the power to make things happen!!”

“NOW is the time to pick up the cadence!!!”

And somehow, someway that’s just what the people did.

The winds blew.
The waves parted.
Walls of water manifested on the
right and on the left.
Wet earth became dry ground.

Wouldn’t you know it- the people: scared, unsure, angry…

Stepped.
And stepped forward.
And moved as a unified body.

1,2,3 step.
1,2,3 step.

Left, left, left, right, left.

They, with their
wounded past, rickety wagons
callused hands, sore feet
crying babies, aging elderly
sunburned skin, bruised backs

moved through the Waters of Freedom to the other side…

…Faith does not always come in the form of logic. Faith does not always come from privileged places and easy situations.

Faith does not always manifest in the right people, perfect politicians or well-oiled communities.

Faith is often the most scandalous, confusing, and awe inspiring thing there is.

Faith is building an ark so you can float upon rough waters.

Faith is the willingness to get up and go, as well as the willingness to stop at the oak of Moreh.

Faith is sometimes found in a jail cell and an unfair situation.

Faith is having your back against the water and stepping into the turbulent sea.

Faith is the very thing that brings us from the “then” into the “now.”

Faith brings us from victim-hood into victory.

Faith delivers us from death into new life.

Faith is the ability to stand still AND the ability to step forward, leaving behind that which we no longer need and embracing who we are to become.

Faith is often unexpected and comes as a cadence that purrs along with the cosmos.

Faith is always ready for another river to cross.

Amen and amen.