Some people are good at conversations and some are not. Often I hear my children say, while we talk, “Mom can you finish the sentence please?” or, “take your time, we will wait.” Occasionally I say things half way and move on to other things. In a conversation we express and exchange our thoughts, needs, feelings, memories, ideas, questions, and answers. Conversations with God are called prayer. Do I talk to God the same way, leaving the conversation half way? Do I ask Him for things, but fail to listen? Do I do what He says? These questions went through my mind as I was meditating on Exodus 14.  

Pharaoh let the Israelites go after many years of slavery. They were on their way to the promise land led by Moses, but the Egyptians had a change of heart and pursued them. With the Red Sea in front and the enemy around them there was no way out for the Israelites. They cried out to the Lord (v 10). The Israelites started a conversation with God when they were in trouble. It doesn’t matter who initiates, but both parties need to talk to make it a conversation.  

The Israelites went on to talk to Moses before God could respond to them. They said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (v 11). If we talk to man before finishing our conversation with God, our focus stays on the problem. We also impede the promises when we don’t take time to listen to God. Life in Canaan was God’s plan, not death in Egypt or in the wilderness. There was one Israelite who listened to God, Moses. He heard God’s plan for their protection and for complete destruction of the enemy. Moses said to them,”Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever (v 13). Answers can be seen in faith when we hear His voice. Moses continued the conversation by listening to God. God’s answer to prayer is either yes, no or wait. But sometimes His answer can be questions.

The Lord said to Moses,”Why are you crying out to Me?” Does this mean we shouldn’t cry out to God when in trouble? No, in our conversation there is a time to listen and also a time to speak. God said, “Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.” People stay in fear and hopelessness when we don’t tell them what God says. The conversation continued by Moses conveying to the people what God said. The conversation was still not done with conveying the message, he also had to do something.

The Lord told Moses to lift up his staff, stretch it out over the sea and divide it (v 15,16). Moses needed to do what God said in order to make a way for them to cross over. People stay trapped when we don’t do what God says. They did what God told them to do. Moses stretched out the staff and divided the Red Sea and the Israelites went forward and crossed over safely. The Lord heard their cry and saved them from the enemy.

Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD (Exodus 15). Miriam and all the women took the timbrels and exalted the Lord with dancing (Ex 15:20,21). This conversation ended in thanksgiving and praise.

The answers to my questions were yes, I need to listen more, encourage others more, do more, and give thanks more. God is waiting for me to finish some conversations just like my children wait for me to finish sentences. Our prayers to God are conversations.

Prayer is asking, prayer is listening, prayer is telling, prayer is doing, and prayer is thanksgiving.