Exodus 14:15-17 and 14:21-22
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 "As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 "As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Moses was a man of great faith but at times he could waver with the best of them. When cornered by the Egyptian army he reacted with courage, encouraging the people about what God was going to do even as they kept silent and watched God do as only He could do. But suddenly there came a question to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Raise your hands along with your Majik Stick over the water and divide the water so that you can cross the Sea on dry ground.”
Moses had spoken to the people with leadership faith while at the same time confessing fear and weakness. At least he directed the two topics where they needed to go. Crying out to God brings a strengthening reaction from Him while letting the people be exhorted to be strong in their faith.
I just want to observe a couple of ideas about this special stick:
1. In Moses’ hand it became a divine weapon (not Majik after all)
2. God vested His power in Moses and the stick to do something big!
3. God was working the scene to get glory out of Moses, his stick, and the Egyptians.
4. There were some very confused fish when they swam through the wall and crashed on the dry ground.
5. God kept His word and everything worked out as He said.
6. I have often wondered when Moses started to raise his hands and the stick if he wondered if it was going to work.
7. God provided the east wind that delivered God’s power exactly where it was needed.
8. Has God put a stick in your hand?