Go On Dry Ground

Go On Dry Ground

12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. (Exodus 14:12-16)

The children of Israel were now trapped between the mountains and the sea, and six hundred Egyptian war chariots were bearing down on them in this helpless state. These chariots made of wood or leather cabs placed over two wheels and pulled by horses, each carried two people. One of the persons to drive, the other to fight. I guess you could say these were the armored tanks of their time. But armored tank or not, even with great power, they were still no match for God! The Israelites thought that they were doomed. After watching God’s powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their only reaction, was fear, whining, and despair. Where was there trust in God? He had repeatedly shown them that He would provide for them. It is examples like this that should remind us to trust in God the first time. Focusing on God’s faithfulness in our past, will cause us to face our current crisis with confidence instead of fear and complaining.Moses had to encourage a group of despairing and hostile people. He told them to watch the wonderful way God would rescue them from the enemy.

Moses had a positive attitude about their outcome. We may not be chased by an army, but there are times in our lives that we feel trapped. Instead of feeling trapped, we should adopt the Moses’ attitude to “stand firm and; see the deliverance of the Lord.” Moses wanted the people to understand that when God delivers, He does a great job! He told the people, in the 13th verse: “The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.” We never have to fear what the enemy wants to do to us because when God says enough is enough, then the enemy must cease his fight. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I am a firm believer that whatever is happening in our lives right now (good or bad), must ultimately bow down to the will and purpose of God. So let the enemy chase after you with his so called tanks let him put up a fight; the victory is already ours!

God is true to His word. He brought deliverance; He made an escape through the midst of the sea. Moses held out his rod, the waters formed a wall of either side, and the Israelites had a path to escape from Pharoah and his army. This still holds true in our day; whatever you are going through, just stand still and watch God work. He will cause you to walk through the water on dry ground!