Keep the Faith

Scripture: Exodus 14 Key Verse: 14:10-14

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up an saw that the Egyptians were coming after them. Terrified, the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, 'Did you bring us out into the desert to die because there were no graves in Egypt? Look what you've done b y bringing us out of Egypt! Didn't we tell you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone! Let us go on serving the Egyptians?' It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than die in the desert!' Moses answered the people, 'Don't be afraid! Stand still, and see what the LORD will do to save you today. You will never see the Egyptians again. The LORD is fighting for you! So be still!'"

Objective:

This chapter could be called, "The Great Escape." This is the final showdown between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The Israelites seem trapped against the Red Sea with nowhere to run, and the Egyptians closing in on them. Then the Lord has Moses raise his staff, and the sea parts making a path to the other side. The Israelites go across and make it to the other side. The Egyptians follow them and Moses commands the sea to flow back to normal engulfing the Egyptian army.

Application:

The first time I went to Universal Studios, Hollywood I was five or six years old. I don't remember much about the trip, except for the backlot tram tour. We got to see the house from psycho, get attacked by a shark, but most amazingly we went through a lake that parted in the middle. The special effects that parted the lake so the tram could drive through were simply amazing to my five-year-old self. how much more amazing would it have been to have seen it done for my survival from the Egyptians. Surely a God that has brought plagues upon my captors, and a pillar of smoke and fire to guide me would continue to protect me and deliver on his promise of a land of milk and honey. It should be pretty easy to put our trust in Him and keep going.
The Israelites had trouble with the whole faith thing. It seems whenever there was the slightest hint of trouble they forgot all that had happened to them before and started to freak out. They started asking why the LORD had done this to them, surely they were better off before this. Then when the LORD provided they remember His power and worship Him.
Its easy to look at the Israelites and say, "can't you see the things God is doing for you?" But at the same time how many times do we question the work of God in our lives. I know that when I begin to lose faith, the reason is usually there is some kind of trouble in my life or the world. Maybe we need to listen to Moses when he says, 'Don't be afraid! Stand still, and see what the LORD will do to save you today."


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, many times you have pulled me out of the fire, and helped me. You have made me the person I am today, by using the good things and the bad things in my life. Please help me stand back and watch you move. I know that I get into the most trouble when I think I can do things on my own. Lord from the good to the bad, help me keep the faith.