Scripture:
Exodus 14:10-18 NKJV
[10] And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. [11] Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? [12] Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” [13] And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. [14] The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” [15] And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. [16] But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. [17] And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. [18] Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Observation:
What an amazing moment in time this was. Part of me kind of wonders what it would have been like to be standing there in that moment. But honestly knowing myself and how I have reacted in the past to these kinds of situations I would have been one of the Israelites who were thinking well this is it. Game over. If you have been reading the Bible for any length of time, you have probably had the opportunity to read this. Or maybe a pastor along the way has come to this set of scriptures on a Sunday morning. Either way, this portion of the Bible is pretty common at least in my life, and if it’s not for you I hope to change that today. The Israelites had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt. Slavery to the task master was over, and although it looked like they had found a good place to take some rest. It turns out that Pharaoh had other ideas. You see he had gathered his army and decided to chase down the free labor that had gotten away. The cover of the mountains that were on both sides of the Israelites became what seemed like a trap. Especially with the Red Sea in front of them. As they watched the dust from the chariots rise over the horizon. In their mind, the end of life was rapidly growing closer. But at least they knew what to expect. Crying out to the LORD for help and complaining to Moses about his decision to bring them to this point. The circumstances looked impossible. What they thought was a safe place to rest became what looked like the final resting place. The old life of slavery and bondage was calling their names. The misery, the cuts on their backs from the whips, sleeping on their stomach so they could heal for the next day’s work. But hey they were used to that. This new life of freedom…. well that was unfamiliar and they didn’t really know what to expect. As the chariots drew closer and their complaints went out to Moses, he stood there in confidence. The words that came to his lips from the LORD didn’t really make sense to those who were hearing them. Even though they had seen all the frogs the river of blood and all the miraculous signs that had taken place in Egypt. They were still pretty convinced the Pharaoh had a little more power than the LORD HIMSELF. “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which HE will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” The confidence that Moses showed along with the obedience that followed was enough. A simple question from the LORD, “Why do you cry to Me?” Now wait didn’t Moses show confidence? Assurance? Steadfast ability? Where did this question come from? It wasn’t directed to the Israelites. As the LORD continues to speak you can clearly see that. ” Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea. That was something that Moses could do. It was simple, natural an easy task, something he could do. The faith that Moses exhibited by his obedience set in motion a chain of events that altered the course of what looked like history. We know how the story continues the sea stood up like a wall and the Israelites crossed on dry ground. What looked impossible became possible with the LORD fighting the battle. The showdown was almost over. As the Israelites made haste to get across. The Egyptians thought they just might do the same. However, their chosen method of transportation seemed to be a problem for them. You see the LORD had a plan all along. As the wheels of the chariots sank into the mud and the Egyptians’ pride to heavy to leave them there. The walls of water came back down and the end of the story was written for them. The LORD’s promises came true.
Application:
I have said and heard it said… The LORD won’t give you more than you can handle. But I’m honestly not sure about that at times. I feel like HE won’t give you more than HE can handle with your faithful obedience. In my life, I have seen many impossible circumstances. Things that I could never overcome on my own. Things I honestly tried to overcome with no success. The bondage of drug addiction for example. It was clear that I had a problem by the time I was 15 years old and it seemed no matter how many treatment centers I went to or how much effort I made. The return to slavery to sin was inevitable. I couldn’t break free on my own. It was impossible. I had to have an encounter with GOD. HE seems to work in impossible circumstances. Things I can’t do for myself. I have watched HIM do. Knowing that HE is for me also allows me to know that no one can stand against me. It gives me confidence that I would otherwise not have. Now I know what that might sound like. Confidence and arrogance are two different things. Standing in the face of the impossible circumstances is pretty nerve-racking and sometimes leaves my knees knocking, just like Moses in this situation. I find myself crying out to the LORD, and have to be told. Why are you crying… step forward and put your rod in the air. GOD wants to use you. HE wants to do something amazing… something beyond your ability. But HE wants you to participate. You see when you are in the face of something that is impossible for you… It’s not impossible for HIM. HE will give you more than you can handle. Because HE wants you to lean on him. When you are inside that impossible moment HE is going to give you something that you can do. Something natural… it may not even make sense. But it will make a way. Just move forward and obey your natural act of faith, could release the LORD supernatural favor and you may be standing at the edge of a Red Sea moment. GOD is fighting for you and HE has brought you to the deepest water HE can because HE knows your enemy can’t swim. Tune your ear to hear the still small voice that says Stay there, or Move forward, or just listen. GOD’S plan for you is salvation deliverance and provision. But if you give up and go back to the familiar you will never see that.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you are able to do way more than we could ask or imagine. We also know that you will bring us to the edge of what is impossible for us, but it’s not for you. As we look at what is too big for us that is when you want us to lean in on you. The fact is you will give us more than we can handle because nothing is too big for you. You are the GOD of the impossible. You will make a way when all we see is a trap. So we bring our lives to you knowing that you can do better than we have. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.