May 6 | Exodus 14:14-15, 26-30

Katie Borden
3 days ago
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

"Good Guys" and "Bad Guys"

By Katie Borden

It feels like a classic cinematic tale, doesn’t it? It’s the “good guys” versus the “bad guys”, and somehow, against all odds, when it looks like all the odds are stacked against them, the “good guys” pull through.

Of course, the story of the Exodus of God’s people from Egypt isn’t a tale magnifying the work of the Israelites–the odds really were stacked against them, and there was no “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” to speak of. God was the one responsible for their rescue, from beginning to end.

And every time I read this passage, I find myself identifying with the Israelites. I like to think that I am one of the “good guys” who just needs to be rescued because the odds are stacked against me. And in some ways, the assault against me–against all of us–from the forces of evil is something that we need to be rescued from.

But as I’ve sat with this passage recently, I also have come to reckon with the truth that there is some “Egypt” in me–that the sin that I and this whole world need to be rescued from has also lodged itself within me, and that, while the person God made me to be needs to be rescued, the sin that tries to take hold of me needs to be drowned.

This “drowning” and “raising to life” is part of the gift we have in the sacrament of Baptism–the promise that, in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has put the sinner in us to death, and raised us to new life in Christ. What gift this is, and what a promise for the future!

And what’s more, God is doing this work in all of creation. The evil that we know around us and within us has already been defeated at the cross and the tomb, and one day God will have finished his new creation, and the destruction and drowning of evil once and for all. We know that, though evil may have its moment, its time is short and God will reign in his goodness and love for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER

God, thank you for being the true "good guy." Cleanse me of my sin, restore and renew me, and train my eyes to look forward in hope to the day when you put an end to evil and make all things new in your goodness. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATIE BORDEN

I’m a lifelong member of UALC and have had the privilege of serving our community in both volunteer and staff roles over the years. I love learning, OSU football, good conversations, chocolate croissants, laughter, and sharing about the good news of Jesus in whatever capacity I can.