Clothesline - Edition 220

By Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson, Pastor

October 9, 2024  

A different Clothesline today; my e-mail is still out of service and I’m sending this from Joel’s computer. It’s Tuesday, October 8th and a non-functioning e-mail is the least of my worries today. We’re preparing for Hurricane Milton’s impact tomorrow evening. The electricity will go out, and we will be thrown into a place of fear and uncertainty.

We’ve been hearing a lot about “storm surge.” When I sat down to organize my thoughts about a Clothesline, all I could think of was Moses and the Red Sea! We’ve had hurricanes for decades, and storm surge was always in the conversation, but we’ve never actually seen it…until just a few years ago. So here we are again, facing a “storm surge”…just like the Israelites. Moses rescued them from slavery in Egypt. They brought with them all their worldly possessions, as many as they could carry. Over the last few days, thousands of people have done exactly the same thing, taking themselves and their belongings to a place where they hope to be safe from the expected storm surge and flooding.

For those Floridians in Zone A and B, yesterday, today and part of tomorrow is exactly like God’s people traveling out of Egypt to a better place. I imagine the freed Israelites were content…until they arrived at the Red Sea! Their faith probably wavered at that point…even though they had already seen the power of God throughout their sojourn. Even Moses wondered what would happen next. Then he was told to stretch out his hand over the sea, and salvation came to the Israelites. They walked on dry land through the sea to the other side. That journey is like those of us who journeyed to a place of shelter from this hurricane. And the storm surge? Well, let’s compare that to what happened after God’s people went through the sea. Those Egyptians who would harm them were swallowed up as the sea returned to usual place!

In a few days, this frightening storm will be history. Repairing and rebuilding will begin. But something that never changed…will continue. The same God that will protect us through this storm, will walk with us as we begin another day in his service. The most important thing did not and will not change…and that is the love and protection of our God. May that thought give you peace today.