Ardrossan United Church

ARDROSSAN UNITED CHURCH

SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 – 17TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

DELIVERED BY REV. DARREN C. WOOFF

“Through the Water”

“The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.”

Exodus 14:22 (New Revised Standard Version)

It was a leap of faith. Of course it wasn’t a literal leap. It was more of a tentative step. Moses stepped down the bank of what used to be the Red Sea, hoping that his sandals wouldn’t get bogged down with the mud of the sea floor. Moses stepped first cautiously, then more confidently as the walls of water stayed in place. The rest of his people followed, seeing that Moses had not been washed away, not yet anyhow. And the Israelites passed on dry ground, through the Red Sea, away from Egypt and slavery. When the last of them had passed through the sea, the people believed in the Lord and in God’s servant, Moses.

The story of the parting of the Red Sea is probably the most famous miracle from the bible. Immortalized in film by Cecil B. DeMille, the image of the people travelling through the parted sea is a powerful one in our minds. It was an even more powerful image in the bible for the early Christians. Baptism was understood to be an experience like that of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. In those days baptism was done by full immersion in water. It was a literal passing through the water into a new life, just as the Israelites passed through the sea on their way to the Promised Land. Baptism is like the parting of the Red Sea and the crossing on dry land. Both are actions done in faith.

It must have taken much faith to walk through the two walls of water, not really knowing when they would come crashing down. Remember that the Israelites had lived in Egypt for generations, long enough to learn to fear water living in the flood plains. But the Israelites took the steps of faith necessary for God to save them from their enemies. In their faith in God they were saved.

Baptism, too, is an act of faith. Whether it is baptism of a child or adult, much faith is required. Why else would we choose to be baptised or have our children baptised? There is no advantage to being baptised, except for those who have faith. Only those who have faith believe that baptism will change our lives. Only those who have faith believe that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with strength. Only those who have faith believe that faith makes a difference in our lives.

And the amazing thing is that when we take a step of faith, we are rewarded with more faith. And faith is the greatest gift of all. When we are talking about the story of the Israelite people passing through the Red Sea, I cannot help but think of the catastrophe in New Orleans, with the Gulf of Mexico in the streets of the French Quarter. The people of New Orleans have passed through water, not as a chosen act of faith, but as a tragedy enforced on so many lives. The flood caused by Hurricane Katrina is an act of such devastation that it shakes faith and makes us doubt in the value of belief. But the value of belief is clear. How else could women and men talk about rebuilding New Orleans without faith? How could they look at flooded streets and see that one day those streets would be filled with people if not for faith? And the result of that faith is the resolution to rebuild for the ones who are homeless. The result of that faith is the strength to carry on, despite the loss of life and property. That first step of faith is difficult, particularly given the scope of destruction and the doubt that it creates. But once taken, that step of faith leads to a belief that one can pass through the water into a land of freedom and healing.

When we take that first step of faith to choose baptism for ourselves or our children we are setting the stage for a life of faith. This faith will carry us through the most difficult circumstances of our lives. Remember, God does not promise us that we will have a perfect life. After all the Israelite people were slaves for at least one whole generation before God saved them. But they had faith in their God and did not give up on God, despite their troubles. And God heard their cries. For us in our lives, our faith—or the faith of our mothers and fathers—will sustain us through many difficult times. Having the faith to believe that God will hear our cries, that God will give us the strength to rebuild after disaster is worth more than gold or power. Faith is more valuable because money is spent, power fades but faith remains with us forever. The greatest gift we can give is faith and it is our greatest possession.

The first step of faith is difficult, whether it is the first of our lives or the first in a long time. It is even more difficult during times of crisis. But like the first step that Moses took through the walls of parted water, that first step can be the first step in our liberation. That first step can be the step of faith that will carry us through the waters of trial. Put your faith in God and take that step. It will take you far. Amen.

XXX