This week we’ve been teaching Exodus 14-17 which includes the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. With my students, I’ve been talking about every Hollywood rendition of this miracle and comparing it with what really happened.

So before I go further, feel free to watch a clip of the miracle before we go on. And take note of what’s happening. Then, read what it said in scripture:

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord Caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Exodus 14: 22-23

I’m sure there are many things that you could find that are different between Hollywood and the scripture. A lot of it for drama, etc. but in this pass through, I noticed the length of time it took.

Note that the strong wind blew all night long, and that action caused the floor of the Red Sea to be dry ground. If they had left right after Moses parted the Red Sea, it would’ve been a bunch of mud, or wet sand. And we all know how difficult that would be to walk in.

And that is the big miracle, was that they walked on dry ground. And a thing that was really interesting to me is that the Lord had to work with the elements and the natural laws that are here on earth. I think that is absolutely fascinating!

This is why, sometimes we expect miracles, and we’re supposed to, because God is a God of miracles. But I’m wondering if sometimes we expect him to do things that he’s unable to do because he does have us in a natural world.

Maybe lining up that perfect job takes a minute because he hast to find places for his other children to move.

Maybe it’s good that the surgery takes a little bit longer to schedule, to give the doctor a little more time to learn the thing that he needed to learn to make it successful.

Maybe getting pregnant took a little bit longer, so that the child would be born at the right time so that here she could influence his peers.

Just as we learned from conference this weekend, we can seek and expect miracles –

Seek and expect miracles. Moroni assured us that “God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.” Every book of scripture demonstrates how willing the Lord is to intervene in the lives of those who believe in Him. He parted the Red Sea for Moses, helped Nephi retrieve the brass plates, and restored His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Each of these miracles took time and may not have been exactly what those individuals originally requested from the Lord.
In the same way, the Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing.” Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith.”

President Russell M. Nelson, The Power of Spiritual Momentum, April 2022 (emphasis added).

Keep on, keep pushing forward, The Lord loves you, and loves your efforts. Don’t give up on doing what’s right. Better days are ahead, it just has to be in the right time. I truly have seen that in my life.

So, what miracles are you needing?

And as you ponder that, ponder this-

How has God given you miracles in the past? Have they been different than you wanted? How were they different? And why was it important?