Right Song, Wrong Side

"And (the people of Israel) said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.... And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. THEN sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." (Exodus 14:11-14,31-15:2).

What a glorious sight it must have been! With nearly one million Israelites trapped against the banks of the Red Sea, Moses lifted up his rod and stretched out his hand over the waters. God divided the Sea like a scroll, opening up a dry path for His people to cross between a wall of water on each side. And then, just as it opened, the walls of water collapsed drowning the entire Eyptian army led by Pharaoh himself.

As the Israelites looked upon the scene, there was stunned silence. Throats cleared. Some rubbed their eyes in disbelief. But, somewhere in the crowd, a maiden drew out her tamborine and began to dance before the Lord. Then Moses and over one million Israelites lifted their hands and with one voice sang a song of praise unto God, "He hath triumphed gloriously! He is our strength and our song! He is become our salvation! We will exalt Him!"

They sang the right song, a song of praise and adoration to God. But they sang it on the wrong side of the Red Sea. On the other side, during their testing, they saw only gloom and doom. They murmured and complained, "Hey Moses, weren't there enough graves in Egypt to bury us all? Is that why you brought us all the way out here in the wilderness? It is better for us to serve the Egyptians in slavery than to die out here!"

Sure, God wants us to praise Him when He answers our prayers, and when He works miracles for us. But, He also wants us to praise Him when we are suffering, when we are enduring trials and times of testing. Peter tells us to "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but REJOICE, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4: 12-14). "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ," Peter continued, "HAPPY are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you."

Lord, help us to always have an attitude of praise toward You, even when things are going bad, even in the midst of suffering or trials. Jesus, we rejoice in You, for You are our salvation, our strength and our song!

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