I was amazed, as I read the Word this morning, to be taken on an old familiar journey with God, Moses and the people of Israel. I will relate to you what God showed me as I read through this precious, extremely familiar true story of Redemption.
Exodus 14:3,14,19-20,29,31
“They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’
This was the perspective that Pharaoh had of the people’s rescue and travels with God. Pharaoh was used to victory, not defeat. He was used to getting his way all the time. He just couldn’t understand how God had beat him. He refused to bow, repent, and acknowledge that God alone is the Lord. God had come in to the Land of Egypt and demanded the release of His captive people. Even after all the plagues God had brought and than miraculously removed from the land, Pharaoh refused to see the truth.
The world’s perspective is never God’s. We must constantly and persistently look at what God says and rest in Him. We are never wandering aimlessly with God, and no wilderness can shut us in. I personally have experienced God’s deliverance from a wilderness time I thought would be the end of me. But He is our rescuer and guide.
14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
I was helpless, in my own wilderness, to effect change. I was hemmed in on every side and had nowhere to turn except to God in prayer. I was so afraid, even as the People of Israel must have been in their own captivity. I curled up, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and even physically sometimes, and waited silently for God. I was either going to be overcome by my Wilderness experience, or God was going to have to overcome it for me. He did. He fought for me, while I could do nothing but keep silent. He is a Redeeming God.
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.
All I wanted to do, after my escape, was to sit in my chair, and stare out at the windows, at the trees. I felt safe, and didn’t want to risk moving out again. But God was calling me out, He was calling me to move forward, to go ahead with what He was telling me to do. This blog is the beginning of that “stepping out journey.”
19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
Even as God is leading us, He will come behind us and protect us. He will be our rear-guard. He will give us people who feel led to watch over us, encourage us, and spur us on. I have several of those now. I had really never had them before, and maybe never would have know that joy, had I not stepped forward in faith. If I had remained in my chair, safe, warm and staring out at my trees; I may never have known the security of the God who moves before me and stands behind me. I may have never known the God who gives me light in the darkness, so that no one comes near me to harm me, because He is my protector.
29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. God calls, we yield, we step out, we obey and the rest is up to Him. I don’t have the power to effect change, to awaken sleeping spirits, or to stir languishing faith; but if God wants to do that in and through me, just my doing what He says, so be it. He is the vine, I am a mere branch, if I remain in Him, I can bear much fruit. Apart from Him, I know I can do nothing. It’s not about me, never has been, never will be.
Exodus 15:11
11 “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?
Obedience to His call, endurance in the hardest of times, resting in His care, will always lead to the praise and glory of God. Praise to God alone, from me, and all who see. Amen
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