Boxes....and....Walls....

Faith.....or.....Fear....

We heard a great message yesterday about a simple and familiar story. Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Let's ponder that story for a few minutes.....

Finally, after many years of living in captivity, the Israelites were allowed to leave Egypt. However, rather than taking the "shorter" way, the Lord led them the "longer" way -- around the Philistine country by way of the desert road toward the Red Sea. Why the longer way? For their protection. God KNEW how they would respond if they had to face war with the Philistines. Only HE knew what was ahead of them on their path. On their journey, the Lord's continual presence remained with them. He never left them, nor deserted them. He faithfully led them.

The road in front of them ended at the Red Sea. Mountains towered over them on both sides. An endless body of water was in front of them. They set up camp once again. Imagine what they were thinking? This is an interesting place to be...Did they feel safe inside their "box" (the lid on the "box" was still open)? Then, remember what God did? He changed the Egyptians' hearts so they would regret letting their slaves leave so boldly and would pursue the Israelites to bring them back.

Meanwhile, the Israelites start to experience a little darkness as the lid on their "box" begins to close. They see the Egyptians approaching and become petrified. Think about it, who wouldn't be? Feeling trapped, of course, they began to grumble, whine, complain, become hostile and be fearful. After just witnessing God's powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their first response was FEAR and despair. Where was their trust? their faith? What is our response when we feel trapped? Do we give in to despair? The Israelites would rather have died in their misery than experience the mighty deliverance of the Lord! Moses' reply to them was, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.....The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Did the Lord provide a way of escape for the Israelites? Let's all say it together, "YES!" The bottom of their "box" broke free, the waters of the Red Sea parted and they walked through as on dry land (no sinking in the mud; no muck; just dryness). I am sure they experienced such relief to be out of their "box," but now they were walking, not RUNNING, down a long "hallway," complete with towering walls of water. Were they moving forward in fear? Would you have been even a little frightened surrounded by "walls" of water, wishing the mob of 600,000 people in front of or around you would move just a wee bit faster? (I would have been one of those thinkers.) Or, perhaps, they were walking boldly once again, following the ever presence of the Lord Himself.

As this familiar story ends, the Lord closes the waters over the hotly pursuing Egyptians so that not even one of them survived. After their deliverance from the Egyptians, the Israelites responded with praise to the Lord.

I was reminded -- this isn't just a "story," it's real life. It is important to remember that the same God that was ever-present with the Israelites is the SAME and POWERFUL God that is ever-present with us each day of our lives. God may lead us the "longer" way, through desert and mountainous lands, into "boxes," through narrow hallways, but He never leaves us. He ALWAYS provides water in the desert, flattens the mountains, opens the "boxes," and opens hallway doors. He does all these in His time.

Through the fear, the doubt, the worry, the lack of trust, despair, complaints, etc., that we have experienced, are experiencing, or may experience at some point in our own life, remember the Lord is WITH us, leading us, teaching us, refining us, protecting us, providing for us (the list continues on and on.....). God desires for us to trust Him, His leading, His timing, etc., and respond FIRST with FAITH. By focusing on God's faithfulness in the past (not only just in our life, but also in our history), we are equipped to face desert lands, "boxes" and "walls" with confidence rather than with fear and complaining.

Faith....or....Fear. What will our response be today? And don't forget, let's remember to praise Him for His leading, protection, providence, etc., He plays out in each of our lives. Blessings to you in this day!!
~Wee