Are you facing an impossible situation and there seems no way out? Are you ‘stuck between a rock and a hard place’? Please consider the following biblical event that shows how God made a way where there seemed no way. Such stories are to inspire hope and give us comfort in difficult times (Romans 15:4). They show us what God did in the past and encourage us to believe that He can do it again—even for us! There’s hope.
We have seen how God came through for the vulnerable of society who were mistreated and who fought against impossible odds (Luke 18:1–8; 1 Kings 3:16–21). Truly, nothing is impossible for God (see Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26). Faith in the God of impossibilities makes humanly impossible situations possible (Mark 9:23; cf., Romans 8:31–39; 1 John 5:1–5). Now check this out.
‘And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation [deliverance] of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians [their army] whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your [be at] peace”.’ Exodus 14:13–14 NKJV
The Historical Setting
When and why did Moses say these dramatic words to God’s people? God had freed them from slavery in Egypt, where they had been enslaved and oppressed. They found themselves at the edge of the Red Sea after leaving ‘the house of bondage.’ The Egyptian ruler oppressed them; the people exploited them. But God came to deliver them by the hand of Moses, their leader, in order to bring them into the Land where He wanted them to live freely and securely. It was the land God had promised to their forefathers, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
This story of deliverance was the greatest of God’s acts of salvation on behalf of His people. God is faithful to His covenant, despite the temporary sufferings by oppressive leaders or nations. Even other types of circumstances we are facing today can be enslaving and oppressive. God wants to deliver us and lead us into freedom. There’s always hope in God. To this day, the Jews commemorate that powerful event in their Passover Feast celebrations. It’s important to remember history, even more the God who acted within history on behalf of His people.
The Egyptian ruler, the Pharaoh, reluctantly let his Hebrew slaves go after being struck by God with severe plagues. But then regretted his decision of losing slave labour—it was bad for the economy and worse for his reputation. He was the most powerful man on earth at the time, and who would want to be humiliated by a bunch of slaves? In any case, he sent his army after the freed slaves, the Israelites (Exodus 14:5–9). God’s people found themselves with the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian army behind them—stuck ‘between a rock and a hard place’ indeed! How were they to escape? There was no ferry across the Sea; they had no weapons to fight that powerful army with its many chariots (ancient versions of modern-day tanks, perhaps). They were with women, children, luggage and cattle! What were they to do? Freak out? Give up? Or turn to God for help?
Can you, perhaps, relate to them? When they looked forward, they saw an insurmountable problem (the Red Sea). When they looked backwards, they saw an invincible enemy (the Egyptian army). Where were they to look now? Where else could they look? Look up to God, perhaps? Could God deliver them and bring them into the future He promised them? God had delivered them from Egypt and brought them on the path into the Promised Land—their future. How was He not to deliver them now from this seemingly impossible situation? Of course He would; it was part of the promise and plan. Whatever you are facing, you must find a way into your future. Look to God for help. He is faithful.
Trusting God
Naturally, the Israelites were ‘afraid’ when they saw the Egyptian army pursuing them (v 10), with their 600 chariots (v 7). An impressive, victorious scene from the Egyptian point of view, but intimidating and frightening from an Israelite point of view. Truly, circumstances always seek to discourage us and make us give up, but should we? Sometimes everything seems so overwhelming and intimidating that we lose hope. While they looked at the problem (the army), Moses sought to make them look to the solution (God). The ‘children of Israel cried out to the LORD’ (v 10)—that’s a good thing. But what happened next was not good: they complained to Moses, their leader, and even accused him that he had led them into the wilderness to die! (vv 11–12) This didn’t make any sense—why would God deliver them from Egypt and then let them die half-way to the Promised Land in the wilderness? Irrational conclusions come from fear and panic. We need peace and clear thinking to find solutions.
The same people who had seen, experienced and celebrated God’s powerful acts of deliverance, were now accusing Moses of having false motives with evil intent! Moses wasn’t moved by this nonsense, but told the people to trust God instead (vv 13–14). He didn’t focus on what they did wrong, but on what he must do right. He led by example. He trusted God. It’s good for a leader to inspire the right focus on God and trust in God, but true faith doesn’t work if people complain and accuse at the same time. God had promised that He would bring them not only out of Egypt (the place of bondage), but also into their land (the place of promise). Why come up with such awful accusations against the man who had proven himself a faithful leader? Why doubt God now?
You cannot trust God and complain and accuse at the same time. But human nature in fear and despair tends to freak out and find someone to blame. If you want to trust God, you cannot assume that He would abort the mission half way and abandon His promise. This situation was simply a problem to overcome on the way into the promised future. We must trust God no matter what comes our way or what stands in the way. He is faithful and powerful to fulfil what He promised. God will make a way where there seems no way. We must trust His word, His promise, His way and His timing. All will be well.
Obeying God
Trust in God must lead to obedience to God. First the people complained to Moses and accused him in an ugly way (Exodus 14:10–12), but he, in response, encouraged them to trust God (vv 13–14). Moses was above their inappropriate words. These didn’t intimidate him, although life and death is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). How you respond to accusations shows who you truly are; the accusations show who they are. As Martin Luther King Jr so rightly stated:
‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’
Trials and challenges show what we are made of and who we truly are. King was right; he had his own share of insurmountable problems to overcome. And he did. He trusted God. Stay focused on God and do the right thing. Don’t be moved by the wrong thing. Most importantly, listen to God and do as He instructs. God spoke to Moses what to do to solve this problem. He obeyed and then another miraculous act of God occurred: Moses lifted up his rod, as God commanded (Exodus 14:15–16), and ‘stretched out his hand over the sea’: in response to Moses’ obedience, God ‘caused the sea to go back by a strong wind all night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided’ (v 21). God made a way through the Red Sea! The people marched right through this seemingly insurmountable problem (the Red Sea) on dry land (v 22). Another demonstration of God’s power and faithfulness! God can make a way where there seems no way. Decisive action is required in such key moments. Trust God and obey Him.
But note also this: first God restrained the Egyptian army (vv 19–20) so as to give God’s people the necessary time to be safe and get to safety, and then He dealt with them so they would no longer pose a threat to His people (vv 23–28). Moses again obeyed God (v 27), and He did as He had promised—He always does! ‘So the LORD saved Israel’ and His people ‘saw the great work which the LORD had done,’ and ‘the people feared [revered] the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses’ (vv 30–31). Their complaining turned into faith; their ‘freaking out’ into fearing God.
The difficulties we face can be truly overwhelming, but trusting God will make things work out in the end. God made a way through the Red Sea (the problem in front of them) and dealt with the army (the problem behind them). God solves problems and ‘has your back.’ When you see problems in front of you and a threat behind you, look up to God who is faithful and powerful. He established a complete victory for His people. The oppressor was no longer (v 27), just as God had promised (v 13b). God had truly fought for them (v 14). The Israelites then celebrated God’s salvation with a song (Exodus 15), a song that echoed in Heaven (Revelation 15). His will had been established on earth as it is in Heaven.
God is faithful to His promise. You can trust Him. And make sure you also obey Him. Life with God is not only about prayer and faith; it requires obedience and actions, too.
Find a Way into Your Future
God will make a way through the Red Sea in front of you and deal with the Egyptian army behind you. This means, God will solve the problem you are facing, and has a solution for what might haunt you from your past. God will bring you into your Promised Land and make you forget the pain of where you come from. Trust Him. He is faithful. God fought for them, God will fight for you.
No matter what you are facing, you must find a way into your future. Focus on the WAY He will make. Don’t give up. Don’t throw away your hope. God will ‘make away’ with what hinders your path into the Promised Land and He will ‘make a way’ into His future for you!
Trust Him. He is faithful. He will fight for you.
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