God’s Mighty Power 上帝的大能
Dexu Xia
When the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord . . . [they] put their trust in him. Exodus 14:31
The seemingly impossible happened when hurricane-force winds changed the flow of the mighty Mississippi River. In August 2021, Hurricane Ida came ashore on the coast of Louisiana, and the astonishing result was a “negative flow,” meaning water actually flowed upriver for several hours.
Experts estimate that over its life cycle a hurricane can expend energy equivalent to ten thousand nuclear bombs! Such incredible power to change the course of flowing water helps me understand the Israelites’ response to a far more significant “negative flow” recorded in Exodus.
While fleeing the Egyptians who’d enslaved them for centuries, the Israelites came to the edge of the Red Sea. In front of them was a wide body of water and behind them was the heavily armored Egyptian army. In that seemingly impossible situation, “the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land . . . and the Israelites went through the sea” (Exodus 14:21–22). Rescued in that incredible display of power, “the people feared the Lord” (v. 31).
Responding with awe is natural after experiencing the immensity of God’s power. But it didn’t end there; the Israelites also “put their trust” in Him (v. 31).
As we experience God’s power in creation, we too can stand in awe of His might and place our trust in Him.
By: Lisa M. Samra
When have you experienced a display of God’s power in creation? How did that lead to a greater trust in Him?
Creator God, please help me to trust You more when I see awesome displays of Your power.
以色列人看见耶和华……大能的手，就敬畏耶和华。—出埃及记14章31节
看似不可能的事情发生了，飓风的威力竟然改变了壮阔的密西西比河的流向。在2021年8月，当飓风艾达于路易斯安那州海岸登陆时，发生了惊人的结果──河水倒流，就是河水实际上是流向上游，且长达数小时。
据专家估计，飓风在其生命周期内消耗的能量相当于一万颗核弹！这股改变河水流向的超凡力量，让我联想到记载在出埃及记那更重要的“河水倒流”现象，现在我可以理解当时以色列人的反应。
那时候，以色列人被埃及人奴役了数百年。以色列人在逃离埃及的路程中走到了红海边缘，在他们前面是一片茫茫大海，后面是全副武装的埃及军队。在那种看似无路可逃的情况下，“耶和华便用大东风，使海水一夜退去，……海就成了干地。以色列人下海中走干地”（出埃及记14章21-22节）。以色列人在这不可思议的大能中获得拯救，他们“就敬畏耶和华”（31节）。
经历了上帝无穷无尽的大能，以色列人对上帝的敬畏油然而生，但除此之外，他们还“信服”上帝（31节）。
当我们从大自然的威力看到上帝的能力时，让我们也对上帝心存敬畏，并且信服祂。
作者： 夏莉珊
你何时曾在大自然的威力中看到上帝的大能？这如何令你更信服上帝？
创造万物的上帝，当我看到祢在大自然中展现的大能时，求祢帮助我更加信靠祢