Chaplain’s Chat

Hope is a powerful force for all of us. All of us have hoped for things and even longed for things to get better. The expectation or desire for a particular outcome is strong in all of us. A lack of hope can lead to paralysing fear or a self-interested control of events as far as we can manage! So often for many of us, when our future is not secure or sure, we can be very anxious, whether this is simply the result of not knowing how a day will unfold or being anxious about that big upcoming event.  

In Chapel, we are looking at the book of Exodus, and we have just seen how the Israelites have been delivered from slavery by a mighty act of God. And yet, as they leave Egypt and are confronted by the Red Sea in front of them and a vengeful Egyptian army coming after them, I am sure many were anxious. Indeed, they complain to God and Moses and seek to return to slavery in Egypt. And yet, in a seemingly impossible situation confronting them, God again intervenes and miraculously rescues his people as he causes the sea to part and the people travel through on dry land. This amazing Biblical narrative speaks of the God who rescues us. It speaks of the God who is in control, and it speaks of the God who cares for his people. And of course, it points to the great rescue that God has won for all people, in the person of his Son Jesus, who dies on a Cross and rescues us from our sins. Because of Jesus, we are reminded that we have a ‘living hope’ in life. As 1 Peter 1:3 says: “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” While never knowing what each day will bring, a hope found in Jesus means that we can face each day knowing that God is with us, he cares for us and our future with him is secure.  

Rev. Anthony Benn 
Chaplain