"Keep moving forward"

Exodus 14:10-15 ESV "When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward."

Background:  God has just performed all of the miracles of the plagues in Egypt through Moses his prophet in order to set the Israelites free from their captivity.

What were the plagues?
1. Plague of blood: Ex. 7:14–25
2. Plague of frogs: Ex. 7:25–8:11
3. Plague of lice or gnats: Ex. 8:16–19
4. Plague of flies or wild animals: Ex. 8:20–32
5. Plague of pestilence: Ex. 9:1–7
6. Plague of boils: Ex. 9:8–12
7. Plague of hail: Ex. 9:13–35
8. Plague of locusts: Ex. 10:1–20
9. Plague of darkness: Ex. 10:21–29
10. Death of the firstborn: Ex. 11:1–12:36.

During these miracles, none of the destruction or devastation affected the Israelites. And, when Pharaoh finally let them go, the Lord gave the Israelites favor in the Egyptians’ eyes to the point that the Israelites were able to plunder the Egyptians on their way out of the land. (Exodus 12:36).

So now, they are marching out of Egypt. God led them as a pillar of smoke in the day and ball of fire at night. And, interestingly enough, He could have lead them on a short cut through the land of the Philistines.  Instead, knowing that if the Israelites encountered war along the way, they’d lose their resolve and want to return to Egypt (Ex 13:17-18), God took them the long way around. Oddly enough, the Israelites left equipped for battle. Maybe they just thought they were prepared, but undoubtedly God knew better.

Have any of you ever looked back and thanked God for taking you the long way around? Did you realize you weren’t as prepared as you thought you were when God started moving you? I know I have. 

So, God is leading them through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Then, he tells Moses to camp between Migdol (which means large hill, tower, or fortified place) and the Red Sea. God literally stuck them between a rock and a hard place. And, wouldn't you know, He did it on purpose. (Ex 14:2-3)

Why do you think God did that? He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he would change his mind and pursue the Israelites, thinking they are wondering aimlessly about in the wilderness, and exact revenge for the death of his son and for all the other plagues. Why is this a necessary piece to the story? After all, the Israelites were set free from their slavery. Problem solved, right? Ha, ha...ha

Present:  So, now we come to our passage. The Israelites are sandwiched between the Red Sea and the Migdol. And all of a sudden, here comes 600 of Pharaoh’s chariots, bearing down on them, loaded for bear.

Our Response: How did they respond? Do you think they lost their perspective, and forgot all that they had just witnessed first hand from God? How would you respond? Be honest. Do you think you would be like the Egyptians and forget all of the suffering back in Egypt and all of the miracles that God had done, and wish to be back there in captivity? I can honestly say that I have.

Moses Response:  How did Moses respond to their complaints and fear? What did he tell them to try and shift their perspective? Did he say work harder and try to figure out a way to escape? Did he tell them to prepare for the fight of their lives? Did he tell to save them selves? No! He reminded them who was fighting for them and who was in control. He basically told them to sit back and enjoy the show.

That is the perfect response! Why is it so easy for us to get wrapped up in the obstacles in front of us, even when we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has brought us to the place in which we’re standing?

What does James say about our trails? “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Why is our amnesia so quick to set in? Luckily God knows our condition. That is why Moses gives the Israelites the command in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. (Look it up. It's too long to type out.)  We cannot afford to ever forget who God is and what all He has done for us. If we do, we will immediately lose our perspective and put our eyes on us.

Think about Peter and how he walked on water in Matthew 14:28-31. (Come on, look it up already!).  When did he start to sink? When he took his eyes off of Jesus. Didn't he get the answer to his prayer (request of Jesus)? Why did he fear then? Because he took his eyes off Jesus, literally.

God’s Response (the best part):  Does God get mad and punish the Israelites for their instant fear and lack of trust in Him? Does He decide to send them back to Egypt as slaves and revoke their salvation? Nope. Not this time. What does He tell Moses instead? Verse 15 says, “The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” He’s already told them that He’s leading them out of captivity. Their job is to keep walking and not to get bogged down with fear, thereby losing focus on the path ahead (aka their PERSPECTIVE). 

He didn’t bring them out to fight and die. He brought them out to be free. All too ofter, we miss the freedom because we're consumed with the fight. Did Jesus die so we could fight? No, he died so we could be free. God will do the fighting for us!!!

Also, He has a purpose for their current situation as well.  He wanted to finish Pharaoh for good as a sign to the Israelites, as well as the surrounding nations, that Israel belongs to God, they are His children, and if anyone mess with them, they will have to deal with Him. It’s important to remember that God does not allow anything to happen, either bad or good, without a plan to redeem it for His glory.

Summary:  No matter what happens as we walk with God, we have to maintain our perspective. "How?," you ask. This is done by always remembering that through Jesus, you are a child of God, and remembering all of the things that God has done for you. That perspective is what will keep you attached to Jesus. Without the perspective that all of whatever is happening in and around you is ordained and purposed by God for His glory, the tendency and instinct will be to sink into self-centered, self-preservation mode. It keeps you looking inward instead of looking upward. If you’re not looking upward, you’re not going to see God. By looking inward, the only little-“g” god you’re going to see is yourself.

So, quit looking down at your trembling knees and...wait for it...KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

 May the Lord bless you with a renewed memory and perspective today and always.

I wanna be in the light!

John 3:20 "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed." I don't know about you, but I don't like it when I get called out for messing up. Whether it's by accident or as a result of missing the mark in my life, I hate that feeling I get when someone says, "Hey buddy, you sure dropped the ball on that one." My face gets red, my pits get sweaty, and my stomach thinks I'm on the steep drop of a roller coaster. It is humiliating. There is nothing pleasant about having to be corrected. So much so, that lots of people will avoid accountability at all costs. They'll point to others as the cause of their errors. They'll avoid spending time with those loved ones that aren't afraid to confront them. Some will even use drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity to dull their senses to that humiliating feeling of correction. These people would be called fools by proverbial standards. They avoid correction, and thus only compound their folly by continuing to walk in it. I think it's interesting that we often avoid correction that we so desperately need to fix our lives. John refers to people that do wicked things as ones who avoid the light. Of course, his reference to Light means Jesus, who is the light of the world. He is also truth, and not just any truth. He is the truth that sets us free. "Free from what?", you might ask. Free from the fear of humiliating correction. There is nothing to fear in bringing your mess-ups and mistakes to Christ. He won't meet you with ridicule or make you a laughing stock, much like the world will. He will embrace you, and love you. He will correct you through the Holy Spirit's conviction, but it is all in effort to restore you. It is interesting that John talks about hiding from the light and staying in darkness. Light will always overpower darkness. Even the tiniest pinhole can let enough light in to illuminate a pitch black room. In fact, the thicker the darkness, the more pervasive even the most minute beam of light is. And usually, it's that light to which we are drawn. As anyone that's ever been in a pitch black place, searching for a way out can attest, that tiny glimmer of light brings the greatest feeling of hope, relief, and freedom. So it is with the Light of this world. That thing you're doing to numb the nagging feeling (I know it's there because we all have it) that something isn't right isn't going to save you from anything in the long run. It will just prolong the inevitable. Let Christ be your light. Let Him shine in your life. If you've never trusted Christ with your entire life, or just certain pieces of it, what's holding you back? What's the worst that could happen? Christ never killed anyone. He only healed. Be healed and be encouraged! "If Christ is for us, who can be against us?" Have a blessed weekend.