LightGrams
April 16, 2026
Volume 30, Number 14
The headline of this service in Cuba grabbed my attention. I expected to read about something like a submarine which ferries passengers from one side of Havana to the other. That would be unique!
Instead, the service is a bus that travels through a tunnel. Since an embargo was enacted in January on oil entering Cuba, gas prices have risen much too high for the average resident. Now they must wait in long lines to ride the bus, to ride from Old Havana to the eastern side of the city, where most jobs are found. The alternative would be to take a 10-mile route that goes along the shoreline of Havana Bay. Riding the bus takes 15 minutes to get across to the other side, a much quicker trip.
Comments below the Associated Press article showed that others had, like me, envisioned a vehicle plowing through the depths of the water. One tried to set the record straight: “The tunnel is underground, not underwater. The water sits on top of the land in which the tunnel is dug.” Another argued that the bus is indeed underwater – when it’s raining.
In Numbers 33 we read about the movement of a larger group of people as Moses records the journey of Israel out of Egypt. In verse 8 he makes a curious statement: “They … passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness” as they escaped from Egypt. What does that mean? Did they swim through the waters to the other side? Did they take something like an underwater bus?
About 1,000 years later the Levites led the people of Judah in a song about their heritage. In verse 11, they praise God for His remarkable ability: “And You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land …” This reminds us of Moses’ account in Exodus 14, how God parted the waters leaving a pathway of dry ground on which His people would cross to the other side (Exodus 14:21,22). “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14).
Does this idea have any relevance to us? I believe it does. All humans are on a journey toward eternity, and one dark, fearful obstacle is in our path: Death. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul discussed death: “For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.” Yes, we want freedom from mortality!
Now hear the next verse: “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God …” (2 Corinthians 5:5). Before Israel left Egypt, God had already planned their journey “through the midst of the sea”. In a similar way, God has prepared our journey in advance. Even the frightful obstacle of Death will give way to God’s power. We will be led safely through to the Promised Land on the other side.
2 Corinthians 5:7 makes an important point for all of us who want to escape mortality to find eternal life: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart …” (Proverbs 3:5).
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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