Parting the Waters, July 4
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by David Gira
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God, with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split. The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left” (Exodus 14:21-22 MSG).
On your cancer journey, you are likely to run into roadblocks. Whether you are denied the care you need, exhaust your last option, or can’t find a parking place, God can make a way.
After two years of cancer-free scans, the disease was back. After thirteen radiation treatments, my oncologist set me up to begin chemotherapy and immunotherapy. I arrived at my appointment a couple of days later, nervous and eager to begin.
After a brief wait, my doctor notified me that my insurance company had denied my treatment. He would have to appeal the denial. While he felt confident that he would be able to reverse their decision, my treatment would be delayed for weeks.
I returned home greatly discouraged. A bad case of holy amnesia set in—somehow, I forgot the countless times God had made a way for me in the past.
A friend reminded me of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt and how God made a way for them.
God heard the Israelites’ cry for help and raised up Moses to lead them out of slavery and to freedom. After Moses, empowered by God, performed a series of miracles devastating to Egypt, Pharaoh begged the Israelites to leave.
Led by God and His servant Moses, the Israelites began their journey to the Promised Land. They had not gone far before Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army in hot pursuit—soldiers, chariots, horses, spears, and swords!
The Israelites soon found themselves pinned between the charging Egyptian army and the uncrossable Red Sea. The Israelites freaked out. It would have been better for us to remain slaves in Egypt!
Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and then spoke these words on His behalf: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV).
Moses raised his staff, and the Red Sea parted. Powerful winds drove the waters back, creating a dry path for the Israelites. They moved forward with walls of water on the left and on the right, crossing to safety.
The Egyptians made the terrible decision to continue their pursuit. When they did, the water walls collapsed on them, destroying them all.
The Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt foreshadows the most important Exodus of all—the one that Jesus calls each of us to make. Through faith, we can follow Jesus’ lead and march out of sin and death’s captivity, into the freedom and life of the Promised Land, through His victory for us on the cross.
The parting of the sea is also emblematic of God always making a way for us, even on our cancer journey. The barriers we face—even cancer—cannot stop Him from fulfilling His good purposes in our lives! Thankfully, my appeal was approved, and I received my treatment. Whatever barrier you are facing, God can make a way for you, too.
Pray: Lord, in this cancer journey there are many obstacles. Today I bring to You the barriers I’m facing now. Help me not to be discouraged, but to remain faithful. Lord, in Your mercy, make a way for me. Amen.
Your Turn: Many Christian songs proclaim our way-making God. This one, “Way Maker,” is on point. As you listen and worship, surrender to God the roadblocks you are facing on your cancer journey.
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a 7 year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
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