The Presence of the God of Jacob – Psalm 114

We recognize the events mentioned here in poetic fashion.  God made the Red Sea part with a dry path for Israel to use to escape the Egyptian army.  He did the same thing to the Jordan River, so Israel could cross over into the promised land and begin the conquest of Canaan.  He shook Mt. Sinai with thunder and lightning.  He made water come out of a rock to provide Israel’s needs.  He is the powerful Creator God, whose world responds to His command.

When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.  The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.

What ails you, O sea, that you flee?  O Jordan, that you turn back?  O mountains, that you skip like rams?  O hills, like lambs?

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.  (Psalm 114 ESV)

Like Israel, our existence as a people of God, the church, is dependent on the deliverance of God.  He delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery and chose to dwell among Israel as in a sanctuary.  He did miraculous things to rescue them from their enemy at the Red Sea and to give them access to the holy land at the Jordan.  His terrible presence on Mt. Sinai showed them His holiness.  We too have been delivered from slavery by God, putting the plague we deserved on Jesus, and we have seen Him do miracles like tongues on Pentecost and the outpouring of the Spirit.  His holiness has been evidenced in His dealings with us, like with Ananias and Sapphira.  All the earth should tremble at His presence, and they will as we display faithfulness and as He acts on our behalf.